引起儿茶酚胺类分解的主要反应为氧化作用, 如多巴胺的降解作用先是氧化成醌[4-(2-氨基乙基)-O-苯酮],经环化产生有色的肾上腺素红-型分子和吲哚(5,6-二羟基吲哚),最后聚合成许多高分子的有色衍生物(如黑色素样聚合物)。氧、光和热均可影响降解,其反应速度亦可受 pH 和微量铜、铁等金属离子所影响。 The main reaction that causes catecholamines to decompose is oxidation. For example, the degradation of dopamine is first oxidized to quinone [4- (2-aminoethyl) -O-phenylketone], cyclization to produce colored adrenaline red-type molecules and Indole (5,6-dihydroxyindole), and finally polymerized into many macromolecular colored derivatives (such as melanin-like polymers). Oxygen, light and heat can affect the degradation, the reaction rate can also be affected by pH and trace amounts of copper, iron and other metal ions.