pituitrin and Parkinson-Disease

Neuropeptides are sufficiently stable to allow valid radioimmunoassay of peptide concentrations in post-mortem human nervous tissue and in human cerebrospinal fluid. Studies have now documented abnormalities of peptide concentrations in degenerative diseases of the brain. Somatostatin concentration is reduced in the hippocampus and neocortex of patients dying with Alzheimer's type dementia. In Huntington's disease, there are reduced concentrations of substance P, met-enkephalin and cholecystokinin in the basal ganglia; in contrast the concentrations of somatostatin and TRH are increased. Immunocytochemical and experimental lesion studies are underway in an attempt to localize the peptide-containing cells affected by these disorders; and the potential role of alterations in neuropeptide function in the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and therapy of these illnesses is of great interest. Although alterations of CSF peptide concentrations have been reported in a variety of human diseases, interpretation of these results requires knowledge of the origin and disposition of CSF peptides. Future research into the pathology of peptidergic systems will depend on the development of specific peptide antagonists to probe dynamic aspects of peptide function and on the application of the tools of molecular biology, such as specific mRNA assays, to human material.

Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Animals; Brain; Cholecystokinin; Choline O-Acetyltransferase; Endorphins; Epilepsy; Forecasting; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Huntington Disease; Migraine Disorders; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Nervous System Diseases; Pain; Parkinson Disease; Radioimmunoassay; Somatostatin; Substance P; Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; Tissue Distribution; Vasopressins

Topics: Abdomen; Autonomic Nervous System; Axons; Constipation; Cranial Nerves; Depression; Diabetic Neuropathies; Drug Interactions; Hallucinations; Humans; Hyponatremia; Hypotension, Orthostatic; Intestinal Obstruction; Muscular Atrophy; Nervous System Diseases; Neural Conduction; Norepinephrine; Pain; Paresthesia; Parkinson Disease; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Seizures; Vasopressins; Vincristine

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive motor disorder, but frequently is accompanied by autonomic symptoms such as hypotension. Together with the decrease of dopamine, significant decreases in aminopeptidase activities have been reported in PD brains. However, up to date there are no studies about changes of aminopeptidase activities in plasma of PD patients. We studied plasma activities of alanyl-, aspartyl-(AspAP), cystinyl-(CysAP) and glutamyl-aminopeptidase (GluAP) in two groups of subjects: control (n=41) and PD (n=48). Plasma activities of AspAP, CysAP, and GluAP showed significant decreases of 24.9% (p<0.05), 39.4% (p<0.01) and 33.3% (p<0.01), respectively, in PD group. These aminopeptidases are involved in the metabolism of circulating peptides such as the ones of the renin-angiotensin system. The importance of aminopeptidases in striatal dopamine content and in neuroendocrine system in PD is discussed.

Topics: Aged; Aminopeptidases; Angiotensins; Cholecystokinin; Dopamine; Enkephalins; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neurotensin; Parkinson Disease; Substance P; Vasopressins

Vasopressin immunoreactivity was measured post-mortem in the locus coeruleus and substantia nigra of 16 cases of Parkinson's disease and multisystem atrophy, 10 cases of Huntington's chorea and 28 normal controls. Amounts of vasopressin did not differ significantly (P greater than 0.05) between the 3 groups. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated vasopressin within nerve terminals. These data are consistent with an extrinsic vasopressin system in the human locus coeruleus and substantia nigra.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Brain; Female; Globus Pallidus; Humans; Huntington Disease; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Locus Coeruleus; Male; Middle Aged; Neurons; Parkinson Disease; Periaqueductal Gray; Substantia Nigra; Vasopressins

A double-blind crossover pilot study was carried out in six patients with Parkinson's disease in order to test the possible therapeutic effect of L-vasopressin after treatment for 1 month with 30 I.U. intranasally daily. The investigation was completed in five cases. No effects was noticed after LVP treatment.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Aged; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Parkinson Disease; Pilot Projects; Vasopressins

Five dysautonomic patients with the Shy-Drager syndrome were studied to determine the basis of their nocturnal polyuria. The results indicated excessive postural modification of renal function in dysautonomic patients. This may, in fact, relate to excessive release of ADH while these patients are up and about, and excessive inhibition while they are recumbent. Treatment with vasopressin produced an inconsistent response.

Topics: Aged; Circadian Rhythm; Dysautonomia, Familial; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Fecal Incontinence; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypotension, Orthostatic; Kidney; Male; Middle Aged; Nervous System Diseases; Osmolar Concentration; Parkinson Disease; Posture; Potassium; Sodium; Syndrome; Urinary Incontinence; Vasopressins; Water Deprivation

Topics: Adult; Analgesia; Anesthesia, General; Anesthetics, Local; Blood Pressure; Brain Diseases; Brain Neoplasms; Craniotomy; Epinephrine; Female; Hemorrhage; Hemostasis; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Ornithine; Pallor; Parkinson Disease; Postoperative Complications; Pulse; Stereotaxic Techniques; Trephining; Vasoconstrictor Agents; Vasopressins; Wound Healing