Reduced number of [3H]nicotine and [3H]acetylcholine binding sites in the frontal cortex of Alzheimer brains.
Nicotinic cholinergic receptors were measured in human frontal cortex using [3H]nicotine and [3H]acetylcholine (in the presence of atropine) as receptor ligands. A parallel marked reduction in number of [3H]nicotine (52%; P less than 0.01) and [3H]acetylcholine (-55%; P less than 0.05) binding was found in the frontal cortex of Alzheimer brains (AD/SDAT) when compared to age-matched control brains. As a comparison the number of muscarinic receptors was quantified using [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate and found to be significantly increased (+23%; less than 0.01) in AD/SDAT compared to controls.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000032:analysis* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000032:analysis*; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000032:analysis; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000032:analysis
D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase