title: Neuroendocrinological function in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: The neuroendocrine function is regulated by several neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, dopamine, somatostatin and noradrenaline) known to be reduced in brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Moreover, the hypothalamus also has pathological changes. In spite of these findings suggesting neuroendocrine dysfunctions, this function has seldom been investigated in AD patients so far. We have compared patients with clinically 'probable' AD of mild-to-moderate severity with nondemented age- and sex-matched controls. Plasma levels of prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured by commercially available radioimmunoassays (RIA) before and after stimulation with metoclopramide, l-dopa or thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Basal plasma levels of beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin were measured by RIA after high-performances liquid chromatography. Basal and stimulated plasma levels of PRL, GH, TSH and beta-lipotropin were similar in the two groups. Basal lamina levels of beta-endorphin were significantly higher in the patient group. Of doubtful clinical importance, this might be attributed to decreased tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic activity and has also been seen in patients with Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Scientific Institute S. Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perego
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferini-Strambi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smirne
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Canal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D008083:beta-Lipotropin; D008787:Metoclopramide