title: gamma-Glutamyltransferase: normal cortical levels in Alzheimer disease.
abstract: gamma-Glutamyltransferase (EC 2.3.2.2; gamma-GT) may be important in the transport of amino acids or peptides across the blood-brain barrier. Gamma-GT activities were the same in cortical samples from Alzheimer and age-matched control brains, and there was no correlation between gamma-GT and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) or acetylcholinesterase (AChE) levels, both of which were significantly reduced in the Alzheimer samples. ChAT and AChE activities were significantly correlated in both groups. ChAT showed a negative correlation with age in the controls and a positive correlation in the Alzheimer group. The opposite was true for gamma-GT, although the correlations were of low significance. The results do not lend any support to the hypothesis of a defect in the blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer disease.
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology*; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000201:enzymology*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase