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Studies on homocysteine and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate plasma levels in alzheimer’s disease patients and in Parkinson’s disease patients

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Abstract

Homocysteine (HC) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) plasma levels have been evaluated in groups of male and female patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and in a group of female patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and compared with the corresponding plasma levels observed in a group of age-matched subjects. It has been confirmed that HC plasma levels are enhanced in both PD and AD patients.

As far as the DHEAS plasma levels are concerned no changes have been observed in PD patients while a marked decrease has been observed in AD patients. These results support the view that while the pro-oxidant effects of HC and its agonist action at NMDA receptors can play a role in both neu-rodegenerative diseases, the role of DHEAS is more complex and may be an important factor only in certain neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, according to the present study DHEAS is likely to be involved in AD but not in PD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy

    S. Genedani & M. Galantucci

  2. Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry, Ospedale “Nuovo Montecchi”, Suzzara, Italy

    G. Rasio

  3. Institute of Clinical Neurology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy

    P. Cortelli & F. Antonelli

  4. Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Padova, Italy

    D. Guidolin

  5. Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Insitutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    K. Fuxe

  6. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Physiology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy

    L. F. Agnati

Authors
  1. S. Genedani
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  2. G. Rasio
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  3. P. Cortelli
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  4. F. Antonelli
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  5. D. Guidolin
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  6. M. Galantucci
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  7. K. Fuxe
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  8. L. F. Agnati
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Correspondence to L. F. Agnati.

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Genedani, S., Rasio, G., Cortelli, P. et al. Studies on homocysteine and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate plasma levels in alzheimer’s disease patients and in Parkinson’s disease patients. neurotox res 6, 327–332 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03033443

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03033443

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