Amine Oxidases and Their Impact on Neurobiology: Proceedings of the 4th International Amine Oxidases Workshop, Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany, July 7-10, 1990

This text describes the most recent research in the field of monoamine oxidase (MAO), diamine oxidase and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase. MAO and its subtypes have gained enormous attention in the treatment of a variety of disorders, such as depression syndrome, Parkinson's disease and dementia of the Alzheimer type. Selective and reversible MAO-A inhibitors (brofaromine, moclobemide) have been developed which are easy to handle in clinical practice and show reduced side effects compared to the early irreversible and unspecific MAO-I's. In addition, the irreversible and selective MAO-B inhibitor has been shown to prolong the life expectancy of patients with Parkinson's disease. Therefore this book contains, in addition to the 36 articles on MAO and its inhibitors, a number of chapters dealing in part with deamination. The roles of catechol-O-methyltransferase, sulfation and up-take-processes are also discussed in detail. This is of particular interest as such an overall view allows a closer insight on neuronal and extraneuronal metabolizing processes.