Decreased plasma and cerebrospinal fluid content of neuroactive steroids in Parkinson's disease

The levels of the neuroactive steroids allopregnanolone (THP) and 5alpha-dihydroprogesterone (DHP) were quantified in the plasma of 11 (group 1) and in the liquor of 12 (group 2) Parkinson's disease (PD) patients using a gas-chromatographic/mass-spectrometric method. When compared with controls...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurological sciences 2003-10, Vol.24 (3), p.172-173
Main Authors: di Michele, F, Longone, P, Romeo, E, Lucchetti, S, Brusa, L, Pierantozzi, M, Bassi, A, Bernardi, G, Stanzione, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Analysis of Variance
Brain Chemistry
Case-Control Studies
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neurology
Neurosciences
Parkinson Disease - blood
Parkinson Disease - cerebrospinal fluid
Pilot Projects
Steroids - blood
Steroids - cerebrospinal fluid
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Summary:The levels of the neuroactive steroids allopregnanolone (THP) and 5alpha-dihydroprogesterone (DHP) were quantified in the plasma of 11 (group 1) and in the liquor of 12 (group 2) Parkinson's disease (PD) patients using a gas-chromatographic/mass-spectrometric method. When compared with controls, both groups showed a significant decrease in DHP and THP concentrations. These decreases could be a useful marker of PD. Moreover, in view of the importance of GABA-ergic transmission to substantia nigra (SN) neurons and GABA-ergic modulation exerted by the two neuroactive steroids, our data indicate a global dysregulation of the SN GABA-ergic system in PD patients. Moreover, a lack of neuroprotective factors (i. e., GDNF, BDNF), promoted by DHP, may contribute to dopaminergic cell death.
ISSN:1590-1874
1590-3478
DOI:10.1007/s10072-003-0115-1