title: Cerebrospinal fluid acetylcholinesterase and choline measurements in Huntington's disease.
abstract: The caudate nucleus has the highest acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the brain and it has been shown that autopsied brain tissue of patients with Huntington's disease (HD) have reduced levels of acetylcholine. Because of these findings, the cholinergic function in HD was studied by measuring cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) choline levels and AChE activity during a randomized, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled clinical trial of isoniazid. While mean choline levels adjusted for age were lower compared with controls (P = 0.0007), AChE activity did not differ between HD patients and normal controls. Treatment with isoniazid had no significant effect on CSF choline levels or CSF AChE activity. CSF AChE activity showed a statistically significant increase with advancing age. The reduced level of choline in CSF of HD patients may reflect either a defect in choline transport into the brain or a decrease of choline-phospholipid output from the brain.
authors: Department of Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield 62794-9230.
authors: B V
authors: BV
authors: Manyam
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Giacobini
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Colliver
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002794:Choline / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
chemical_list: D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D011736:Pyridoxine; D002794:Choline; D007538:Isoniazid