Stimulation of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase in rat adrenals by repeated exposures to carbon disulphide.

The conversion of dopamine to noradrenaline, measured shortly after exposure to carbon disulphide, is reduced in the adrenals of rats. However, alongside this effect, carbon disulphide produces a gradual increase in the adrenal content of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase indicated by the increase of in vitro estimated enzyme activity and by the increased in vivo conversion of dopamine to noradrenaline observed 24 hr after the ninth exposure. Thus, after repeated exposures, the reduced rate of noradrenaline synthesis detectable immediately after the exposure alternates with the increased rate of synthesis.