title: Dynamic changes of anandamide in the cerebrospinal fluid of Parkinson's disease patients.
abstract: A correct balance between endocannabinoid and dopamine-dependent systems is believed to underlie physiological motor control. We measured the levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide in the cerebrospinal fluid of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Subjects were divided into three groups: newly diagnosed de novo patients, subjects undergoing drug withdrawal, and patients under pharmacological therapy. These groups were compared to age-matched control subjects. Anandamide levels in untreated patients were more than doubled as compared to controls. However, chronic dopaminergic replacement restored control anandamide levels. Abnormal anandamide increase might reflect a compensatory mechanism occurring in course of PD, aimed at normalizing dopamine depletion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moschella
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bari
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fezza
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galati
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stanzione
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccarrone
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D015415:Biomarkers; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D015415:Biomarkers; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D007980:Levodopa; C078814:anandamide