Nicotinic receptor losses in dementia with Lewy bodies: comparisons with Alzheimer's disease

Neurobiol Aging. 2000 Sep-Oct;21(5):741-6. doi: 10.1016/s0197-4580(00)00168-8.

Abstract

We sought to delineate differences between alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) levels in Alzheimer's disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and age matched controls, as well as the correlations between alpha7 or non-alpha7 nAChR levels and synaptophysin (Syn) or choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in DLB. Mean bungarotoxin (Bgt) binding was 2.7 - 1.1 for controls, 2.4 +/- 1.0 for AD and 1.4 +/- 0.5 for DLB. There were significant decreases in Bgt binding for the DLB group compared to either controls or AD. Mean epibatidine (Epi) binding was 14.8 +/- 3.2 for controls, 6.3 +/- 3.2 for AD and 7.1 +/- 2.4 fmoles/mg protein for DLB. Epi binding in both the AD and DLB groups was significantly lower than in the controls. Although Syn loss correlated with the decrease in Epi binding in both diseases, declining ChAT levels correlated with Epi binding only in DLB. These data demonstrate a different pattern of nAChR loss in AD and DLB that may, in part, explain some of the differences in the two phenotypes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / metabolism
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / pharmacology
  • Bungarotoxins / metabolism
  • Bungarotoxins / pharmacology
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Choline O-Acetyltransferase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Lewy Body Disease / metabolism*
  • Lewy Body Disease / pathology
  • Neurons / chemistry
  • Neurons / enzymology
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Nicotinic Agonists / metabolism
  • Nicotinic Agonists / pharmacology
  • Pyridines / metabolism
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / analysis
  • Receptors, Nicotinic / metabolism*
  • Tritium
  • alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor

Substances

  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic
  • Bungarotoxins
  • Chrna7 protein, human
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Nicotinic Agonists
  • Pyridines
  • Receptors, Nicotinic
  • alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
  • Tritium
  • Choline O-Acetyltransferase
  • epibatidine