DECREASE IN CEREBELLIN AND CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE IN THE CEREBELLUM OF OLIVOPONTOCEREBELLAR ATROPHY AND SHY-DRAGER SYNDROME

Four neuropeptides; cerebellin, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), neuropeptide Y and somatostatin were studied by radioimmunoassay in t he postmortem human brains obtained from three patients with olivopont ocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) and one with Shy-Drager syndrome. Significa nt decreases in cerebellin and CRH concentrations were found in the ce rebellar hemisphere of these diseases compared with controls. These fi ndings suggest important pathophysiological roles of cerebellin and CR H in these cerebellar diseases. Such significant decreases were not fo und in neuropeptide Y and somatostatin.