DOPAL is known to be a
dopaminergic neurotoxin. It is much more
potent in this regard than dopamine itself and other metabolites of dopamine. DOPAL is detoxified mainly by
aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH).
Aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors (ALDH inhibitors), which prevent the
catabolism of DOPAL and thereby increase DOPAL levels, can produce dopaminergic neurotoxicity or augment dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Examples of ALDH inhibitors include
disulfiram and other known
dopaminergic neurotoxins including
benomyl,
daidzin,
dieldrin,
methylmercury,
rotenone, and
ziram. DOPAL itself is also known to inhibit ALDH at high concentrations (>5μM). ==See also==