OFFICIAL USE ONuwu The 142nd meeting of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine was held May 6-7, 1972, at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Members present were Drs. R. D. Moseley, Jr., Chairman; P. R. Stout, Vice-Chairman, C. A. Finch, A. J. Haagen-Smit, T. A. Lincoln, J. B. Storer, Scientific Secretary, and Miss Rosemary Elmo, Executive Secretary. Headquarters personnel from the Division of Biology and Medicine included Drs. J. R. Totter, Director; D. Bruner, N. Barr, F. Brooks, R. Rabson, and R. Wood. Mrs. Gail Bradshaw was present from the Office of Information Services, Headquarters, as was Dr. John Harley, of the Health and Safety Laboratory in New York. Dr. Maurice Goldhaber, Director of the Brookhaven National Laboratory, welcomed the Committee and then turned the scientific program over to Dr. Victor Bond, Associate Director, who chaired the scientific session. The first presentation was by Dr. George Cotzias who introduced his presentation by revealing areas of research emphasis in his program that had been followed in the past. These included studies on the metabolism of neuro transmitters and the metabolism of trace metals, especially manganese and zinc. Methods for analyzing trace metals by activation analysis have been refined to the point where they can now do non-destructive testing for the trace metals and then use the same sample to assay for neuro transmitters. Dr. Cotzias then went on to review the well known story of the treatment of Parkinson's disease by means of L-DOPA. He then discussed other possible applications of L-DOPA. There is apparently a report in the literature indicatiny that small doses are efficacious in the control of mammary carcinoma. Osteoporosis also responds to treatment by L-DOPA, probably mediated through the hypothalamus. He then described briefly the present status of his studies on Parkinson's disease. One problem that is not corrected by L-DOPA therapy is the righting reflex. Dr. Cotzias and his group have found that gamma hydroxybutyric acid markedly improves this reflex. They have also found that apomorphine is effective in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and there is some indication that metatyrosine may be useful. In an interesting experimental study they have found that they can predict the sensitivity of animals to the toxic effects of L-DOPA by Measuring their absorption of manganese. The rank order correlation coefficient is +0.86. A continuing problem with any form of therapy for Parkinson's disease including surgery, is the risk of inducing diorientation in the patients. Conversely, physicians treating patients with disorientation by drugs apparently increase the risk of the development of Parkinson's-like signs and symptoms in these patients. This suggests that there is a great deal to be learned about the neuro transmitters and Dr. Cotzias and his group seemed to be principally interested in this area of research at the present time, OFFICIAL USE ONLY