3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol

3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol
Names
	IUPAC name 1-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) ethane-1,2-diol
	Other names MHPG
Identifiers
CAS Number	534-82-7 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image; Interactive image;
ChemSpider	10348 ;
KEGG	C05594 ;
MeSH	Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol
PubChem CID	10805;
UNII	98LK01183Z ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID20862142 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C9H12O4/c1-13-9-4-6(8(12)5-10)2-3-7(9)11/h2-4,8,10-12H,5H2,1H3 Key: FBWPWWWZWKPJFL-UHFFFAOYSA-N ; InChI=1/C9H12O4/c1-13-9-4-6(8(12)5-10)2-3-7(9)11/h2-4,8,10-12H,5H2,1H3 Key: FBWPWWWZWKPJFL-UHFFFAOYAR;
	SMILES COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(CO)O)O; Oc1ccc(cc1OC)C(O)CO;
Properties
Chemical formula	C9H12O4
Molar mass	184.18918
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG, MOPEG) is a metabolite of norepinephrine degradation. In the brain, it is the principal norepinephrine metabolite. It is released into the blood and cerebrospinal fluid,^[1] and a blood sample of it may therefore be an indication of recent sympathetic nervous system activity.

Low levels of MHPG in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid are associated with anorexia nervosa and pathological gambling, indicating that norepinephrine may play a role in these behaviors.^[2]

References

^ Increase in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma levels of 3-methoxy-4- hydroxyphenylglycol in acute stroke T Kanda, K Azuma, F Sakai and Y Tazaki. Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan.
^ "Pharmacologic Approaches to the Treatment of Pathological Gambling". Mental Health eJournal. 1998;3(3). Medscape.
^ Figure 11-4 in: Rod Flower; Humphrey P. Rang; Maureen M. Dale; Ritter, James M. (2007). Rang & Dale's pharmacology. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 978-0-443-06911-6.