IMIDAZOLINE RECEPTOR PROTEINS IN BRAINS OF PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Imidazoline receptors (29/30- and 45-kDa proteins) were quantitated in postmortem brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) by using immunoblotting techniques and a specific antiserum. Increased levels o f the 29/30-kDa protein (30%), 45-kDa protein (36%) and glial fibrilla ry acidic protein (88%) were found in the frontal cortex of AD patient s. These findings are in line with the reported higher density of imid azoline receptors labelled by [H-3]idazoxan in AD brains, suggesting t hat these imidazoline receptor proteins are related to the 12-imidazol ine receptor located in mitochondria of glial (astrocyte) cells. (C) 1 998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.