| Scientific Background: | Human cytochrome P-450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is responsible for the metabolism of many psychotherapeutic drugs, and has been shown to act on MPTP a thermal product of synthetic heroin, which causes Parkinson's Disease (PD)-like symptoms in man. Mutation in the cyp2D6 gene has been reported to be associtated with PD. The association between Parkinson's Disease and genetic polymorphism in the human CYP2D6 gene has been reported. CYP2D6 has been found in first trimester human fetal liver, and in the placenta. Rat CYP2D1, the homolgue of human CYP2D6, has been shown to catalyse the conversion of hydrocodone to hydromorphone, and in rat liver microsomes it participates in the conversion of ethylmorphine to codeine and morphine. |
