Widespread decrease of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in Parkinson's disease.
OBJECTIVE
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have close interactions with the dopaminergic system and play critical roles in cognitive function. The purpose of this study was to compare these receptors between living PD patients and healthy subjects.


METHODS
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors were imaged in 10 nondemented Parkinson's disease patients and 15 age-matched healthy subjects using a single-photon emission computed tomography ligand [(123)I]5-iodo-3-[2(S)-2-azetidinylmethoxy]pyridine. Using an arterial input function, we measured the total distribution volume (V; specific plus nondisplaceable), as well as the delivery (K(1)).


RESULTS
Parkinson's disease showed a widespread significant decrease (approximately 10%) of V in both cortical and subcortical regions without a significant change in K(1).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate the importance of extending the study to demented patients.
Fujita
Masahiro
M
Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Building 1, Room B3-10, I Center Drive, MSC-0135, Bethesda, MD, USA. fujitam@intra.nimh.nih,gov
Ichise
Masanori
M
Zoghbi
Sami S
SS
Liow
Jeih-San
JS
Ghose
Subroto
S
Vines
Douglass C
DC
Sangare
Janet
J
Lu
Jian-Qiang
JQ
Cropley
Vanessa L
VL
Iida
Hidehiro
H
Kim
Kyeong Min
KM
Cohen
Robert M
RM
Bara-Jimenez
William
W
Ravina
Bernard
B
Innis
Robert B
RB
D000368:Aged; D001384:Azetidines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D001384:Azetidines; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011725:Pyridines; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; C023666:pyridine