cholecystokinin and Amyotrophic-Lateral-Sclerosis

Topics: Acetylcholinesterase; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Anal Canal; Animals; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Catecholamines; Cholecystokinin; Enkephalins; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Male; Motor Neurons; Muscles; Neural Pathways; Pancreatic Polypeptide; Parasympathetic Nervous System; Pelvis; Penis; Rats; Somatostatin; Spinal Cord; Substance P; Urethra; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

In 10 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the CSF content of the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and cholecystokinin (CCK) as well as neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) was investigated. Compared with normal controls, no deviations were found in CCK or NCAM, while the values of VIP were significantly lower in ALS patients. This finding may reflect a loss of motor neurons.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Antigens, Surface; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Cholecystokinin; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Muscular Atrophy; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Using immunocytochemical methods, a severe loss of substance P, but not of enkephalin, cholecystokinin and serotonin containing fibers was observed in lamina IX of the spinal cords from 4 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases. Substance P-fibers were decreased before degeneration of motoneurons. They were normal in the remaining spinal gray matter.

Topics: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Cholecystokinin; Enkephalin, Leucine; Enkephalin, Methionine; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Male; Middle Aged; Neurotransmitter Agents; Serotonin; Spinal Cord; Substance P

Functional studies of the pancreas and parotid glands are reported in 17 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The exocrine function of the pancreas was studied by measuring amylase concentration after stimulation with the endogenous secretin-pancreozymine test (ESP). Under these conditions, the pancreatic amylase concentration in ALS patients was found to be markedly decreased by about 45% when compared with those of healthy control subjects. Different conclusions in the literature about a possible impairment of the exocrine pancreas in ALS patients induced us to study the function of the parotid gland, which has close structural, functional, and physiopathological relationship with the pancreas. Flow rate and bicarbonate concentration of parotid saliva were measured after indirect stimulation (intraoral citric acid) and direct stimulation (pilocarpine). After indirect stimulation, both parotid flow rate and bicarbonate concentration from ALS patients were found to be decreased by about 66% and 70% respectively, when compared with controls. On the other hand, direct stimulation with pilocarpine in ALS patients elicited normal responses in both flow rate and bicarbonate concentration of saliva. It is concluded that the pancreatic and parotid deficiencies observed in ALS patients do not indicate primary disease of these exocrine glands. This interpretation is further emphasized by the results obtained by a sweat test, plasma osmolarity, and sialographic studies. The possibility that the gland impairments observed might be due to modifications of the neuroendocrine mechanisms regulating their secretory activity is suggested.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Amylases; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Bicarbonates; Cholecystokinin; Citrates; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreas; Parotid Gland; Pilocarpine; Salivation; Secretin; Secretory Rate

Topics: Adult; Aged; Amylases; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Cholecystokinin; Female; Humans; Lipase; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreas; Pancreatic Juice; Secretin