In article <3jdtmj$p0q at dingo.cc.uq.oz.au> lisao at psy.uq.oz.au (Lisa Olson) writes:
>From: lisao at psy.uq.oz.au (Lisa Olson)
>Subject: Parkinson's/cocaine
>Date: 6 Mar 1995 02:57:23 GMT
>Hi all ..
>I just had a quick question for all you pros out there ..
>If Parkinson's is caused by degeneration of certain
>dopaminergic neurons, and L-Dopa is given as a treatment ..
>why isn't cocaine being used as a treatment as well or
>as an alternative if cocaine prevents the reuptake of
>dopamine. Wouldn't cocaine and L-Dopa cause the same
>thing?
>Thanx,
>Lisa
>
Cocaine has other effects other than on the dopamine system. It has its major
effect on the adrenergic system. Specifically it blocks the re-uptake of
norepinephrine by the pre-synaptic neurons. This results in overexcitation of
the post-synaptic neuron. Any effect on the dopamine system would be swamped
by the adrenergic overdrive.
Gary
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Gary Krause (gkrause at cms.cc.wayne.edu)
Department of Emergency Medicine
Wayne State University, Detroit, MI USA
