title: A perspective on narcolepsy.
abstract: Neurochemical analyses were performed on brains obtained at post mortem from 3 patients with narcolepsy. The salient findings were an increase in noradrenergic and serotonergic neuronal activity, a decrease in dopaminergic neuronal activity, and, in 2 of the 3 brains, a decrease in the number of alpha-1-noradrenergic receptors in the frontal cortex and amygdala. A pathophysiological model for narcolepsy is developed on the basis of these findings. The neurobiology of narcolepsy is compared with that of depression. The role of MHC--class II gene products in the genesis of narcolepsy is discussed. Some treatment implications follow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mamelak
mesh_terms: D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006801:Humans; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D012895:Sleep, REM
chemical_list: D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin