TY - JOUR
T1 - Galanin‐Like Immunoreactivity Is Increased in the Postmortem Cerebral Cortex from Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
AU - Gabriel, Steven M.
AU - Bierer, Linda M.
AU - Davidson, Michael
AU - Purohit, Dushyant P.
AU - Perl, Daniel P.
AU - Harotunian, Vahram
PY - 1994/4
Y1 - 1994/4
N2 - Abstract: Galanin is a peptide that is associated with cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain and, thus, of interest for the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, human galanin‐like immunoreactivity was measured in postmortem human cerebral cortical tissues by using a homologous radioimmunoassay. In an initial study, six cerebral cortical regions were evaluated from nine elderly controls, 13 neuropathologically verified Alzheimer's disease patients, and 19 elderly schizophrenics. A significant 65% increase in galanin was found in frontal cortex Brodmann area 8 of Alzheimer's disease patients compared with controls. In contrast, cerebral cortical tissues from elderly schizophrenics were not different from those from elderly controls in any region. In a second study, 10 cerebral cortical regions were evaluated from 50 neuropathologically verified Alzheimer's disease patients and nine elderly controls. Concentrations of galanin were increased significantly 26–61% in six of 10 cerebral cortical regions examined (Brodmann areas F8, F44, T20, T21, T36, and P22). Purification of brain extracts by size‐exclusion Sephadex G‐50 chromatography revealed that human galanin‐like immunoreactivity eluted in two peaks of different molecular weights. These studies reveal increased concentrations of galanin in the cerebral cortex of Alzheimer's disease, similar to previous findings in basal forebrain tissue. Because galanin inhibits cholinergic neurotransmission, these findings may have important implications in the understanding of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology and associated cognitive deficits.
AB - Abstract: Galanin is a peptide that is associated with cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain and, thus, of interest for the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, human galanin‐like immunoreactivity was measured in postmortem human cerebral cortical tissues by using a homologous radioimmunoassay. In an initial study, six cerebral cortical regions were evaluated from nine elderly controls, 13 neuropathologically verified Alzheimer's disease patients, and 19 elderly schizophrenics. A significant 65% increase in galanin was found in frontal cortex Brodmann area 8 of Alzheimer's disease patients compared with controls. In contrast, cerebral cortical tissues from elderly schizophrenics were not different from those from elderly controls in any region. In a second study, 10 cerebral cortical regions were evaluated from 50 neuropathologically verified Alzheimer's disease patients and nine elderly controls. Concentrations of galanin were increased significantly 26–61% in six of 10 cerebral cortical regions examined (Brodmann areas F8, F44, T20, T21, T36, and P22). Purification of brain extracts by size‐exclusion Sephadex G‐50 chromatography revealed that human galanin‐like immunoreactivity eluted in two peaks of different molecular weights. These studies reveal increased concentrations of galanin in the cerebral cortex of Alzheimer's disease, similar to previous findings in basal forebrain tissue. Because galanin inhibits cholinergic neurotransmission, these findings may have important implications in the understanding of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology and associated cognitive deficits.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Dementia
KW - Galanin
KW - Neurodegeneration
KW - Neuropeptides
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028230422&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1994.62041516.x
DO - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1994.62041516.x
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C2 - 7510783
AN - SCOPUS:0028230422
SN - 0022-3042
VL - 62
SP - 1516
EP - 1523
JO - Journal of Neurochemistry
JF - Journal of Neurochemistry
IS - 4
ER -