Glutamate and GABA levels in CSF from patients affected by dementia and olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy

• Published in: Acta neurologica Scandinavica Vol. 85; no. 6; p. 430
• Main Authors: Tosca, P, Canevari, L, Di Paolo, E, Ferrari, R, Verzé, S, Zerbi, F, Dagani, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark 01-06-1992
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Dementia - cerebrospinal fluid; Dementia - diagnosis; Female; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - cerebrospinal fluid; Glutamates - cerebrospinal fluid; Glutamic Acid; Humans; Luminescent Measurements; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies - cerebrospinal fluid; Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies - diagnosis; Parkinson Disease - cerebrospinal fluid; Parkinson Disease - diagnosis
• ISSN: 0001-6314
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1992.tb06042.x

The modifications in the CSF content of glutamate and GABA in patients afflicted with primary degenerative dementia (PDD) and olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy (OPCA) have been evaluated. Control subjects (with disk herniation) were also included in the study. The amino-acids assays were carried out utilizing enzymatic-bioluminescence technique. GABA levels in controls were 803 +/- 98 (n = 7) and in demented patients 702 +/- 98 (n = 7) pmol/ml. Glutamate levels were 2067 +/- 244 (n = 10) in controls, 1190 +/- 81 (n = 16) pmol/ml (vs controls p less than 0.01) in demented patients, and 1116 +/- 146 (vs controls p less than 0.01) in OPCA patients. These results suggest that CSF glutamate levels in severely demented patients might be a result of generalized neuronal loss in the brain with a reactive gliosis.