Substance P receptors are differentially affected in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease

We have quantified by receptor autoradiography the number of NK1 receptors, using [125I] Bolton-Hunter labeled substance P, in striatum and pallidum (internal (GPi) or external (GPe) segment) of patients suffering from Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). When compared to non-neurologic controls, a significant increase in the number of NK1 sites has been observed in the striatum of PD patients. No significant differences were observed for the GPi and GPe. We observed no significant differences from controls in the number of NK1 sites in the striatum and pallidum of AD cases. However, the number of NK1 sites in the striatum of AD patients was significantly lower than that of PD patients. These results show that the expression of NK1 receptors in the basal ganglia is affected in PD.