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Frontal dopaminergic abnormality in Tourette syndrome: a postmortem analysis
Dustin Y Yoon1, Colin D Gause, James F Leckman
1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Harriett Lane Outpatient Building, 200 N. Wolfe Street, Suite 2158, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|March 6, 2007
Summary
This study found increased dopamine transporter (DAT) and D2 receptor density in the frontal lobes of Tourette syndrome (TS) patients. These findings suggest a dopaminergic dysfunction contributing to TS pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurochemistry
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Frontal-subcortical abnormalities are linked to Tourette syndrome (TS).
- A neurochemical basis in the frontal cortex requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate potential neurochemical abnormalities in the frontal cortex of TS patients.
- To examine dopamine (D1, D2), serotonin (5HT-1A), and alpha-adrenergic (alpha-2A) receptors, dopamine transporter (DAT), VMAT-2, and vesicular proteins.
Main Methods:
- Postmortem brain tissue from frontal and occipital regions of TS patients and controls were analyzed.
- Semiquantitative immunoblotting was used to measure neurochemical marker densities.
- Data was corrected for actin content and expressed as a percentage of control values.
Main Results:
- Increased dopamine transporter (DAT) and D2 receptor density were observed in five of six frontal regions in all TS subjects.
- D1 and alpha-2A receptor densities showed increases in some frontal regions.
- No significant changes were noted in occipital regions (data not shown).
Conclusions:
- The findings support a hypothesis of dopaminergic dysfunction in the frontal lobe of TS patients.
- This dysfunction likely plays a role in the pathophysiology of Tourette syndrome.
- Further research into frontal lobe neurochemistry is warranted for TS.
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