Hypocretin-1 (orexin-A) levels in human lumbar CSF in different age groups: infants to elderly persons.
OBJECTIVE
Recent CSF and postmortem brain hypocretin measurements in human narcolepsy suggest that hypocretin deficiency is involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. In this study, we measured CSF hypocretin-1 levels in various age ranges from infants to elder people to investigate the age-dependent change of hypocretin concentrations.


METHODS
CSF hypocretin levels were compared by age groups and gender. ANOVA was used to examine the influences of these two parameters on CSF hypocretin levels.


METHODS
University-based sleep and biology laboratory.


METHODS
Two hundred seventy two patients were included in this study, with 157 males and 115 females (0-79 years old).


METHODS
CSF samples were obtained by lumber punctures with informed consents.


RESULTS
Hypocretin-1 levels are not different in respect to gender or age, although our samples constitute a heterogeneous group with various disease conditions. CSF hypocretin-1 levels in infants under 4 months are similar to those in adults.


CONCLUSIONS
Early maturation of hypocretin transmission is suggested. No age- or gender-dependent changes in CSF hypocretin is observed.
Kanbayashi
Takashi
T
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Akita University School of Medicine, Hondo, Japan. takashik@psy.med.akita-u.ac.jp
Yano
Tamami
T
Ishiguro
Hideaki
H
Kawanishi
Kentoh
K
Chiba
Shigeru
S
Aizawa
Rika
R
Sawaishi
Yukio
Y
Hirota
Kouichi
K
Nishino
Seiji
S
Shimizu
Tetsuo
T
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000172:deficiency; D000068797:Orexins; D013129:Spinal Puncture
D002352:Carrier Proteins; C000596229:HCRT protein, human; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins