NEUROPEPTIDES IN CSF AND POST-MORTEM BRAIN TISSUE OF NORMAL CONTROLS, SCHIZOPHRENICS AND HUNTINGTON'S CHOREICS

Introduct ion 3. The localization of NT in normal human brain is presented. 4. Concentrations of EL', TRH, and SRIF were determined in brain tissue from normal controls and patients with schizophrenia or Huntington's chorea. Specific alterations in the levels of these neuropeptides were found in each disease. 5. Appreciable quantities of NT immunoreactivity are present in human CSF. Sub-normal CSF-NT levels were found in a sub-group of unmedicated schizophrenics but were elevated back to normal concentrations following neuroleptic treatment. 6. Although the pathophysiological significance of these findings is unclear, they nevertheless indicate that neuropeptides are important brain constituents which deserve further study. Kevwords : CSF, Runtington's chorea, neuropeptides, neurotensin, post-mortem brain, somatostatin, schizophrenia, thyrotropin releasing hormone. Abbreviations : Brodmann's area CBA), central nervous system (CNS), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), control fC), dopamine (DA), Huntington's chorea (El, neurotensin (NT), radioisnnunoassay (RIA), schizophrenic (Sl, somatostatin (SRIF), thyrotropin releasing