CSF corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in Alzheimer's disease: its relationship to severity of dementia and monoamine metabolites.
The concentration of corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivity (CRF-LI) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 15 probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with mild to moderate dementia and 10 neurologically normal age-matched controls was examined. There were no significant alterations in the mean CSF CRF-LI concentration in AD compared to controls. However, in the AD group, CSF CRF-LI correlated significantly with the global neuropsychological impairment ratings, suggesting that greater cognitive impairment was associated with lower CSF CRF-LI concentrations. There was a significant reduction in the CSF concentration of homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the AD patients, and there was a positive correlation between the concentration of CRF-LI and 5-HIAA in CSF. This latter finding suggests that serotoninergic neuronal systems may interact with CRF-containing neurons.
Pomara
N
N
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY 10962.
Singh
R R
RR
Deptula
D
D
LeWitt
P A
PA
Bissette
G
G
Stanley
M
M
Nemeroff
C B
CB
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006719:Homovanillic Acid