KAPPA-1 OPIOID RECEPTORS OF THE TEMPORAL CORTEX ARE PRESERVED IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

The binding of [H-3]-U-69593 and [H-3]-CI-977 to kappa-1 opioid recept ors has been examined in the temporal cortex of postmortem brains from patients with Alzheimer's disease and age-matched controls using quan titative autoradiography. There was no significant difference between Alzheimer and control subjects in the level of [H-3]-U-69593 and [H-3] -CI-977 binding, but ChAT activity was markedly reduced (by 73% compar ed to controls). These results are not consistent with a presynaptic l ocalisation of kappa-1 receptors on cholinergic terminals in human tem poral cortex.