Loss of human hippocampal adenosine A1 receptors in dementia:: evidence for lack of specificity

The density of hippocampal adenosine A(1) receptors was measured in autopsy samples of six patients with dementia with either Alzheimer (three) or sclerosis type pathology (three) in hippocampus and six control patients. Kinetic parameters (B-max and K-D) were determined by means of quantitative autoradiography using [H-3]8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine as a radioligand. A significant 50% reduction of CA1 adenosine A(1) receptors was observed in patients with dementia independent of the specific pathology. These results suggest that loss of hippocampal adenosine A(1) receptors in dementia is not specific for Alzheimer type pathology. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.