Reduced cerebrospinal fluid dynorphin A1-8 in Alzheimer's disease

Biol Psychiatry. 1991 Jul 1;30(1):81-7. doi: 10.1016/0006-3223(91)90073-u.

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) measures of dynorphin A were compared in three groups. Alzheimer patients (n = 9), elderly depressives (n = 9), and age-matched normal controls (n = 9). The Alzheimer patients revealed a 40% decrease in CSF dynorphin compared with controls (36 +/- 15 versus 60 +/- 21 pg/ml, p less than 0.05). In contrast, other peptide measures [Neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and galanin] remained unchanged across groups. This finding was further supported when an additional 20 Alzheimer patients with similar clinical backgrounds also showed reduced CSF dynorphin (37 +/- 13 pg/ml). CSF dynorphin did not correlate significantly with clinical variables or other CSF measures of monoamine metabolites [i.e., 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and homovanillic acid (HVA)]. Given the previous report of increased kappa binding of Alzheimer brains at autopsy, the authors speculate about a possible up-regulation of opiate receptors in Alzheimer's disease and suggest ways to test this hypothesis in vivo.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Depressive Disorder / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Dynorphins / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Female
  • Galanin
  • Homovanillic Acid / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Male
  • Mental Recall / physiology
  • Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropeptide Y / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Peptide Fragments / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Peptides / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Receptors, Opioid / physiology
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / cerebrospinal fluid

Substances

  • Neuropeptide Y
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Peptides
  • Receptors, Opioid
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
  • Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid
  • Dynorphins
  • dynorphin (1-8)
  • Galanin
  • Homovanillic Acid