Concentration of catecholamines and indoleamines in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with vascular parkinsonism compared to Parkinson's disease patients

Abstract

The concentration of catecholamines and indoleamines in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with vascular parkinsonism (VP) was compared to that in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and controls. Compared to the controls, the concentration of tyrosine was significantly higher, and the concentration of L-dopa and 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD) was significantly lower in both VP and PD patients. The balance between the 3-OMD/L-dopa and dopamine (DA)/L-dopa ratios was changed in favor of 3-OMD/L-dopa in both VP patients and PD patients suggesting the preservation of a compensatory mechanism. All these changes were less marked in VP patients than in PD patients. A remarkable finding was that in contrast to PD patients the concentration of DA and norepinephrine (NE) was significantly higher in VP patients than in the controls. The decrease in the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was significantly greater in VP patients than in PD patients. In PD patients, the concentration of DA, NE, and 5-HT showed significant correlation with the severity of motor symptoms. In VP patients, the concentration of 5-HT alone showed significant correlation with the severity of motor symptoms and cognitive dysfunction. These findings suggest that VP patients may have similar disturbances in the DA synthesis pathway as PD patients, but differ from PD patients in that the concentrations of DA and NE are elevated and the decrease in the 5-HT concentration is greater in VP patients.

Cerebrospinal fluid biochemical studies in patients with Parkinson's disease: toward a potential search for biomarkers for this disease

“…Tohgi et al (1991b, 1997) found a significant increase in tyrosine, and a significant decrease in CSF levodopa, DA, and 3-OMD in PD patients, which was related with levodopa dosage, and described an additional decrease in 3-OMD in subjects treated with tolcapone (Tohgi et al, 1995a). Other authors reported increased CSF 3-OMD related with levodopa therapy (Antkiewicz-Michaluk et al, 1997; Krygowska-Wajs et al, 1997).…”

“…Tohgi et al (1993b,c, 1997) reported a 15–20% reduction of CSF 5-HT, tryptophan (precursor of 5-HT), kynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine (metabolites of tryptophan) levels in PD patients. CSF 5-HT levels showed a negative correlation with the severity of bradykinesia, rigidity and freezing of the gait, and decreased after levodopa therapy.…”

The effect of L-DOPA onCryptococcus neoformansgrowth and gene expression

“…brain tissue 22,23 and nM in the CNS. 24 The distribution of catecholamines in the brain is not uniform. For example, dopamine concentration is particularly high in the basal ganglia, 25 a region where C. neoformans is often found.…”

Association between the levels of biogenic amines and superoxide anion production in brain regions of rats after subchronic exposure to TCDD

“…In this study, subchronic exposure of rats to low doses of TCDD is shown to produce larger changes in the levels of some biogenic amines and their metabolites in the brain, than the previously observed after acute exposure (Tuomisto et al, 1990). Since changes in the levels of biogenic amines are known to be associated with various human diseases (D'Amato et al, 1987;Hastings and Zigmond, 1997;Hornykiewicz, 1975;Okado et al, 2001;Richelson, 1991;Tohgi et al, 1997), these results may indicate possible long term neurotoxic effects of TCDD.…”