Effect of adrenal-caudate transplantation on CSF levels of salsolinol sulfate in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to determine whether the activation of dopaminergic pathways through adrenal-caudate transplantation stimulates the production of the dopamine cyclic metabolite salsolinol in CSF of patients with Parkinson's disease. Salsolinol sulfate in CSF samples was assayed by radioenzymatic technique. The outcome of this study revealed that the replacement of degenerative nigrostriatal neurons with new dopamine-producing cells by adrenal brain transplants resulted in significant increase in CSF concentration of salsolinol sulfate as compared to preoperative levels.