G-PROTEINS (GO,GI) IN THE STRIATUM IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE

The present study was aimed to determine the effect of the nearly comp lete nigro-striatal dopaminergic denervation on GTP-binding protein, G oalpha and Gi2, in the caudate nucleus, and putamen from parkinsonian patients. Using post-morterm human brains, we measured the concentrati ons of Goalpha and Gi2 in the putamen and caudate nucleus of controls and parkinsonian disease by enzyme immunoassay. The level of Goalpha a nd Gi2 were not changed between parkinsonian and control brains. These results indicate that striatal dopaminergic denervation may not modif y the amount of G-proteins.