Benzodiazepine receptors in normal human brain, in Parkinson's disease and in progressive supranuclear palsy.
Benzodiazepine receptors have been characterized in human brain. They have been localized mainly in the cerebral cortex and a synaptosomal enrichment was observed after brain fractionation by differential centrifugation. Benzodiazepine receptors were studied in Parkinson's disease and in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). In both diseases, the [3H]flunitrazepam specific binding was unchanged when compared to control groups (Bmax and KD values) except in the caudate nucleus of parkinsonian patients where an increase of the specific binding was observed. The subcellular distribution profile of benzodiazepine receptors in Parkinson's disease was similar to that of controls. gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) still enhanced the [3H]flunitrazepam-specific binding (increase of binding affinity), indicating that the functional link between GABA and benzodiazepine receptors remained intact in Parkinson's disease. The present results suggest that benzodiazepine receptors in human striatum are localized on neuronal elements which do not degenerate in Parkinson's disease and PSP.
Maloteaux
J M
JM
Laboratoire de Neurochimie, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Luabeya
M A
MA
Vanisberg
M A
MA
Laterre
E C
EC
Laduron
P M
PM
Javoy-Agid
F
F
Agid
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D013494:Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / Q000378:metabolism*
D011963:Receptors, GABA-A