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Increased melatonin 1a‐receptor immunoreactivity in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease patients
Author(s) -
Savaskan Egemen,
Olivieri Gianfranco,
Meier Fides,
Brydon Lena,
Jockers Ralf,
Ravid Rivka,
WirzJustice Anna,
MüllerSpahn Franz
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-079x.2002.00841.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , melatonin receptor , neuroprotection , hippocampus , hippocampal formation , medicine , endocrinology , pineal gland , alzheimer's disease , biology , circadian rhythm , receptor , neuroscience , disease
The pineal secretory product melatonin has, in addition to regulating retinal, circadian and vascular functions, neuroprotective effects. Blood melatonin levels are often decreased in Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressively disabling neurodegenerative disorder. In this study we provide the first immunohistochemical evidence for the localization of melatonin 1a‐receptor (MT 1 ) in aged human hippocampus and a comparison of AD cases. MT 1 was localized to pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal cornu ammonis (CA)1‐4 subfields. There was a distinct increase in staining intensity in all AD cases indicating an up‐regulation of the receptor, possibly as a compensatory response to impaired melatonin levels in order to augment melatonin's neuroprotective effects.