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Alzheimer's Dementia and Binding to Alpha 2 Adrenoreceptors in Platelets
Author(s) -
Adunsky Abraham,
Hershkowitz Moshe,
Rabinowitz Marian
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1989.tb02236.x
Subject(s) - medicine , radioligand , alzheimer's disease , dementia , platelet , receptor , endocrinology , population , degenerative disease , radioligand assay , disease , alpha (finance) , surgery , construct validity , patient satisfaction , environmental health
Seventy‐five patients with probable Alzheimer's disease were screened for binding of alpha 2 receptors (A 2 R) to their platelet membranes; the results were compared with 51 age‐ and sex‐matched controls. Receptor binding assays were performed using [ 3 H] Yohimbine as the radioligand. The results showed a higher binding capacity in the demented population as compared to the control group (2.18 ± 0.15 fmol/mg protein, as compared to 1.73 ± 0.13 , P < 0.03). This increased binding to platelets in the demented patients was more prominent in demented females: 34% higher binding as compared with female controls (2.06 ± 0.5 vs 1.54 ± 0.04). The difference between demented and normal males was less (2.34 ± 0.05 vs 1.88 ± 0.05). The results indicate an involvement of the A 2 R system, either primarily or secondarily, in the disease process. Since there is an overlap between results from the patients with Alzheimer's disease and the normal subjects, A 2 R may serve as only a supportive marker for Alzheimer's disease .