Biogenic aldehyde metabolism in rat brain.  Differential sensitivity of aldehyde reductase isoenzymes to sodium valproate. 
The effects of inhibitors of aldehyde reductase (alcohol:NADP+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.2) on the formation of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenethylene glycol from normetanephrine have been studied in rat brain homogenates.  The reaction pathway was shown to be unaffected by several inhibitors of the major (high Km) form of aldehyde reductase such as sodium valproate.  Two isoenzymes of aldehyde reductase have been separated and characterized from rat brain.  The minor (low Km) isoenzyme is shown to be relatively insensitive to sodium valproate and exhibits a similar inhibitor-sensitivity profile to that obtained for methoxyhydroxyphenethylene glycol formation.  The low Km isoenzyme is therefore implicated in catecholamine metabolism.  The metabolism of succinic semialdehyde and xylose by rat brain cytosol has also been examined.  Aldose metabolism may also be attributed to the action of the low Km reductase, but the existence of a separate succinic semialdehyde reductase is postulated.  The possible roles of aldehyde reductases in brain metabolism and the relationship between these enzymes and aldose reductase (alditol:NADP+ 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.21) are discussed.