Cerebrospinal fluid norepinephrine reductions in man after degeneration and electrical stimulation of the caudate nucleus

Abstract

Lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) norepinephrine concentrations determined by radioenzymatic assay in 9 patients with caudate atrophy associated with Huntington's disease were lower ( p < 0.02) than those i n 9 age-and sex-matched control patients.Preoperative lumbar CSF norepinephrine concentrations were determined in 5 patients undergoing stereotaxic thalamotomy. No significant alterations in prestimulation lumbar CSF norepinephrine levels were recorded 12 days after electrode installation and thalamic coagulation. Lumbar CSF norepinephrine concentrations were reduced ( p < 0.03), however, 1 2 hours following intermittent selective electrical stimulation of the caudate nucleus.These data suggest that noradrenergic pathways in man are (1) impaired in Huntington's disease and (2) inhibited by direct caudate stimulation.Wood JH, Ziegler MG, Lake CR, et al: Cerebrospinal fluid norepinephrine reductions in man after degeneration and electrical stimulation of the caudate nucleus. A n n Neurol 1: [94][95][96][97][98][99] 1977