sincalide and Alzheimer-Disease

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a peptide that can be found in the cerebral cortex in high concentrations and is involved in learning and memory as well as neurodegenerative processes. Cortical brain samples from 9 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 9 matched control cases were studied with respect to the concentrations of various molecular forms of CCK and the CCK receptor binding characteristics. No differences were found between patients and controls in any of these measures. Significant correlations were found between the concentrations of CCK-8 sulphated and the three nonsulphated CCK peptides measured. In addition, the concentrations of CCK-4 and CCK-5 showed a highly significant and positive correlation.

Topics: Age of Onset; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease; Analysis of Variance; Case-Control Studies; Cholecystokinin; Female; Gyrus Cinguli; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Peptide Fragments; Receptors, Cholecystokinin; Sincalide; Tetragastrin

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients have a severe degeneration of cholinergic neurons in their cerebral cortices. Basal forebrain (BF)-lesioned rat is used as a model animal of a cholinergic deficit in the cerebral cortex. Cholinergic markers were decreased in the cerebral cortex of BF-lesioned rats. Intracerebroventricular continuous infusion of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK8) following BF lesion obviously preserved these cholinergic markers. These results suggest that CCK8 prevents the degeneration of cholinergic neurons in the cerebral cortex following BF lesion.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Alzheimer Disease; Animals; Cerebral Cortex; Choline; Choline O-Acetyltransferase; Cholinergic Fibers; Disease Models, Animal; Injections, Intraventricular; Male; Prosencephalon; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Sincalide

Topics: Aged; Alzheimer Disease; Amino Acids; Brain; Cholecystokinin; Choline O-Acetyltransferase; Dementia; Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; Glutamate Decarboxylase; Humans; Middle Aged; Neurotransmitter Agents; Peptide Fragments; Sincalide; Somatostatin; Substance P