Biochemical substrates and activities of three enzymes were determined in cortical and subcortical brain areas from neuropathologically proven cases with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and age-matched control cases. Protein and total lipid content, lecithin, triglycerides, cholesterol, uric acid, alkaline and acid phosphatases and cathepsin activity were determined in homogenates from frontal, temporal, and occipital cortex, hippocampus, the amygdaloid nucleus and the putamen. Protein content was reduced in the frontal cortex only. In the hippocampus, total lipids, triglycerides, lecithin, cholesterol, and acid phosphatase activity were reduced. Cathepsin activity was reduced in the putamen, and increased in the amygdaloid body. The other brain areas appeared unaltered. Neuropathological changes were most pronounced in the hippocampus. The data indicate that only in the hippocampus, the most severely affected brain region, major alterations of membrane constituents occur. Among the neocortical brain regions, only the frontal cortex showed some signs of degradation of cell membranes. The activity of cathepsin, a lysosomal protease potentially involved in amyloidogenesis, was differentially altered. The biochemical observations do not follow the classical pattern of neuropathological degeneration in DAT.

Keywords:
Dementia of the Alzheimer type, Brain, postmortem, Membrane alteration, Protein, Lipids, Alkaline phosphatase, Acid phosphatase, Cathepsin, Cerebral cortex, Hippocampus
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© 1991 S. Karger AG, Basel
1991
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