L-glutamate, L-arginine and L-citrulline levels in cerebrospinal fluid of Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and Alzheimer's disease patients

Alterations in neuronal nitric oxide (NO) production may play a role in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) Alzheimer's disease (AD), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). The biosynthesis of NO is dependent on the availability of L-arginine, the substrate for NO-synthase (NOS), a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Neural Transmission 2000-01, Vol.107 (2), p.183-189
Main Authors: KUIPER, M. A, TEERLINK, T, VISSER, J. J, BERGMANS, P. L. M, SCHELTENS, P, WOLTERS, E. C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Alzheimer Disease - cerebrospinal fluid
Alzheimer Disease - physiopathology
Arginine - cerebrospinal fluid
Biological and medical sciences
citrulline
Citrulline - cerebrospinal fluid
Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases
Glutamic Acid - cerebrospinal fluid
Humans
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
multiple system atrophy
Multiple System Atrophy - cerebrospinal fluid
Multiple System Atrophy - physiopathology
Neurology
Neurons - metabolism
Neurons - pathology
Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis
Nitric Oxide Synthase - metabolism
Parkinson Disease - cerebrospinal fluid
Parkinson Disease - physiopathology
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Summary:Alterations in neuronal nitric oxide (NO) production may play a role in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) Alzheimer's disease (AD), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). The biosynthesis of NO is dependent on the availability of L-arginine, the substrate for NO-synthase (NOS), and on L-glutamate, which stimulates NO synthesis via the NMDA receptor. In this process L-citrulline is formed. We measured the levels of these amino acids in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 108 PD patients, 12 AD patients, 15 MSA patients and 21 healthy subjects. A slight but statistically significant elevation of CSF L-citrulline was found in MSA patients, while CSF L-glutamate was found to be significantly decreased in AD patients. We found no significant changes in L-arginine levels. Although the relation between the CSF levels of these amino acids and neuronal NO production is still unclear, our findings suggest that AD is associated with a decrease in NO synthesis.
ISSN:0300-9564
1435-1463
DOI:10.1007/s007020050016