Title: EFFECT OF SODIUM NITRITE ON MONOAMINE OXIDASE ACTIVITY IN RAT LIVER AND BRAIN
Abstract: A number of monoamine oxidase (MAO) [EC 1. 4. 3. 4. monoamine: oxygen oxidoreductase (deaminating)] inhibitors which were employed as a tool for studing the relationship between biogenic amines and function of MAO have been discovered (1, 2). As the result of studies on these compounds with respect to their special ability to inhibit MAO, it has been proved that there is a difference in enzymic properties of liver and brain MAO (3, 4) and mitochondrial and plasma MAO (5). However, a few number of works have been reported on the activation of MAO in which reagents have been employed (6–8). Since it has not yet been possible to prepare mitochondrial MAO in a soluble form, many studies have been carried out with crude preparation. The detailed mechanism of the enzymic oxidation of monoamines is still remained to be cleared. We have found that sodium nitrite (NaNO2) is capable of activating MAO.