Organic nitrate explosives as monoamino-oxidase inhibitors. Studies in vitro.

Abstract

The effect on mitochondrial monoamine oxidase activity of rabbit liver of the organic nitrate explosives glyceryl trinitrate, propylene glycol dinitrate, and ethylene glycol dinitrate and their metabolites ethylene glycol mononitrate, nitrate ion and nitrite ion has been studied in vitro with a method using tryptamine labelled with radioactive carbon as a substrate. The monoamine oxidase activity was inhibited by the three explosives, while their metabolites had no such effect. Kinetic studies indicated a competitive inhibition for all the three substances.