Kay A D, Milstien S, Kaufman S, Creasey H, Haxby J V, Cutler N R, Rapoport S I
Arch Neurol. 1986 Oct;43(10):996-9. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1986.00520100018008.
Tetrahydrobiopterin is the cofactor in the hydroxylation of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan leading to the eventual synthesis of the monoaminergic neurotransmitters, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, respectively. Total biopterin (90% of which is in the tetrahydro form) was measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of 30 patients with Alzheimer's disease and of 19 healthy controls. Plasma and CSF biopterin concentrations were not significantly correlated, but the mean CSF biopterin concentration in patients with Alzheimer's disease was significantly less than in age-matched controls, 13.5 pmol/mL as compared with 18.9 pmol/mL. The CSF biopterin concentration was not correlated with ventricular volume, as estimated by quantitative computed tomography, nor with the severity of dementia, as measured by various cognitive tests. The results suggest that a central biopterin deficiency exists in Alzheimer's disease.
四氢生物蝶呤是苯丙氨酸、酪氨酸和色氨酸羟基化反应中的辅助因子，分别最终导致单胺能神经递质多巴胺、去甲肾上腺素和5-羟色胺的合成。测定了30例阿尔茨海默病患者及19名健康对照者脑脊液（CSF）和血浆中的总生物蝶呤（其中90%为四氢形式）。血浆和脑脊液生物蝶呤浓度无显著相关性，但阿尔茨海默病患者脑脊液生物蝶呤平均浓度显著低于年龄匹配的对照组，分别为13.5 pmol/mL和18.9 pmol/mL。脑脊液生物蝶呤浓度与定量计算机断层扫描估计的脑室容积无关，也与各种认知测试所测量的痴呆严重程度无关。结果提示，阿尔茨海默病存在中枢生物蝶呤缺乏。
