Reduction of arginine-vasopressin in the cerebral cortex in Alzheimer type senile dementia

Abstract

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) concentrations in five cortical areas were measured post mortem in nine patients with senile dementia of Alzheimer's type (SDAT), and compared with the control group of comparable ages. In SDAT patients, AVP was significantly reduced in Brodmann areas 4, 7 and 10 (p < 0 05). In areas 17 and 22, the detectability and the mean concentrations of AVP were also lower than those of control patients, although not significantly.