Decreased striatal dopamine-receptor binding in sporadic ALS: glutamate hyperactivity?
The pathogenesis of ALS may be related to increased glutamatergic excitotoxicity. The striatum receives massive glutamatergic input. Animal studies suggest that glutamate decreases striatal D2-receptor synthesis. In drug-naive, sporadic ALS patients we demonstrated decreased striatal D2-receptor binding in vivo that could be partially reversed by the glutamatergic transmission blocker riluzole. Our findings support the glutamatergic excitotoxicity hypothesis in sporadic ALS.
Vogels
O J
OJ
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Oyen
W J
WJ
van Engelen
B G
BG
Padberg
G W
GW
Horstink
M W
MW
D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019782:Riluzole / Q000494:pharmacology*
D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D019782:Riluzole