Serotoninergic system in dementia of the Alzheimer type. Abnormal forms of 5-hydroxytryptophan and serotonin in cerebrospinal fluid.
Serotonin (5-HT), its precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), and its major metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 14 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and in nine controls by high-performance liquid chromatography with a novel multisensor coulometric detection system. Concentrations of both 5-HT and 5-HIAA detected by this system were lower than the concentrations obtained using conventional amperometric detection. This difference was caused by coelution of compounds that could be resolved from 5-HT and 5-HIAA by the multisensor coulometric system. One of the coelution compounds, observed in DAT but not in control CSF, behaved like a partially oxidized 5-HT. A compound behaving like partially oxidized 5-HTP was also observed in DAT CSF. Concentrations of 5-HTP, 5-HT, and 5-HIAA were lower in DAT CSF than in a corresponding fraction of control CSF. These results indicate involvement of the serotoninergic system in DAT and might lead to development of a diagnostic test for DAT.
L
L
Volicer
P J
PJ
Langlais
W R
WR
Matson
K A
KA
Mark
P H
PH
Gamache
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D003704:Dementia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008875:Middle Aged
D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan