0000000000459998
AUTHOR
Björn Lemmer
Reduced basal and stimulated (isoprenaline, Gpp(NH)p, forskolin) adenylate cyclase activity in Alzheimer's disease correlated with histopathological changes
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is an adenylate cyclase borne second messenger involved in basic metabolic events. The beta-adrenoceptor sensitive adenylate cyclase was studied in post-mortem hippocampi of controls and Alzheimer patients. Virtually identical subsets of each hippocampus homogenate were stimulated by 100 mumol isoprenaline, Gpp(NH)p and forskolin, respectively, in presence of an ATP-regenerating system. The determination of cAMP formed was carried out by means of a radioassay. The observed significant 50% reduction in basal as well as in stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in Alzheimer's disease is negatively correlated with semiquantitative evaluations of amyloid pla…
Beta-adrenoceptor density and subtype distribution in cerebellum and hippocampus from patients with Alzheimer's disease
beta-Adrenoceptor density and beta 1- and beta 2-subtype distribution were examined in hippocampi and cerebella from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD/SDAT). Tissues from age-, sex and post-mortem delay matched non-demented patients served as controls. The total beta-adrenoceptor density as evaluated in saturation experiments with the hydrophilic radioligand [3H]CGP 12177 was higher in hippocampal (36-39 fmol/mg protein) than cerebellar tissues (20-21 fmol/mg), however, no differences were found in either brain region between AD/SDAT patients and controls. Subtype distribution using the highly selective beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonist CGP 20712A revealed a slightly higher proportion of b…
Down-regulation of the expression of endothelial NO synthase is likely to contribute to glucocorticoid-mediated hypertension.
Hypertension is a side effect of systemically administered glucocorticoids, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. Ingestion of dexamethasone by rats telemetrically instrumented increased blood pressure progressively over 7 days. Plasma concentrations of Na + and K + and urinary Na + and K + excretion remained constant, excluding a mineralocorticoid-mediated mechanism. Plasma NO 2 − /NO 3 − (the oxidation products of NO) decreased to 40%, and the expression of endothelial NO synthase (NOS III) was found down-regulated in the aorta and several other tissues of glucocorticoid-treated rats. The vasodilator response of resistance arterioles was tested by intravital m…