DOPAMINE METABOLISM IN POSTMORTEM CAUDATE-NUCLEUS IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS

Concentrations of the dopamine metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA), and the ratios of these to dopami ne(DA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(HIAA) in the caudate nucleus of patients affected with Alzheimer's disease Senile Dementia of Lewy bod y type(SDLT) and Parkinson's disease were determined. Each disorder ha d a unique pattern of dopamine metabolism when compared with normals. Patients with Alzheimer's disease had a high ratio of DOPAC/DA and a l ow ratio of HIAA/DOPAC whereas in Parkinson's disease the high DOPAC/D A ratio was associated with low concentrations of DA and its metabolit es. Low concentrations of DA and its metabolites in caudate also diffe rentiated SDLT from controls and Alzheimer's disease In addition, hall ucinations in SDLT were associated with a low ratio of DOPAC/DA.