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Aminergic systems in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease
Author(s) -
D'Amato Robert J.,
Zweig Richard M.,
Whitehouse Peter J.,
Wenk Gary L.,
Singer Harvey S.,
Mayeux Richard,
Price Donald L.,
Snyder Solomon H.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410220207
Subject(s) - parkinson's disease , disease , medicine , neuroscience , degenerative disease , alzheimer's disease , psychology , pathology
Biochemical markers for serotoninegic and catecholaminergic neurons in frontal and temporal poles were examined post mortem in brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and the two combined. Binding of [ 3 H]citalopram to serotoninergic uptake sites and levels of serotonin were Decemberreased by 40 to 50% in brains of persons in each disease category. In contrast, significant reductions of catecholaminergic markers were not detected. In all three disease groups, the choline acetyltransferase activity was reduced by 50 to 60%. Binding sites for adenosine (A 1 ), muscarinic cholinergic, phencyclidine, β‐adrenergic, and calcium antagonist receptors were unchanged. We conclude that substantial damage to serotoninergic neurons occurs in persons with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.