Browsing by Author "ARRIAGADA, J"

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    BLOOD MARKERS IN ALZHEIMER-DISEASE - SUBNORMAL ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE AND BUTYRYLCHOLINESTERASE IN LYMPHOCYTES AND ERYTHROCYTES
    (ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, 1994) INESTROSA, NC; ALARCON, R; ARRIAGADA, J; DONOSO, A; ALVAREZ, J; CAMPOS, EO
    In patients with the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD), we searched for systemic changes in components of the blood as a diagnostic tool. The acetylcholine-related enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) were measured in plasma, erythrocytes, platelets and lymphocytes. Results did not show a general effect; notwithstanding, specific cell types presented alterations either in AChE or BuChE but not in both enzymatic activities. In AD patients, AChE of lymphocytes was reduced by 60% compared with the age-matched controls. However, when patients were divided, the sporadic but not the familial subgroup exhibited a significant reduction. In erythrocytes the BuChE activity was reduced by 45% in sporadic AD. The molecular forms of the lymphocyte AChE were characterized by velocity sedimentation. Both globular forms were subnormal, more so the tetrameric G(4) AChE form than the G(2) form.
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    PLATELET OF ALZHEIMER PATIENTS - INCREASED COUNTS AND SUBNORMAL UPTAKE AND ACCUMULATION OF [C-14] 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE
    (1993) INESTROSA, NC; ALARCON, R; ARRIAGADA, J; DONOSO, A; ALVAREZ, J
    Platelets are the main source of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and amyloid precursor protein (APP) found in plasma. We studied a possible correlation between platelet markers and the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD). Our results indicate that in AD patients: (a) platelets are elevated, (b) their ability to accumulate 5-HT decreases and, (c) the kinetic parameters of 5-HT uptake are altered (decreased K-m and V-max), compared to non-demented healthy individuals. An aged Down syndrome patient presents even more deviant alterations. Our finding supports the idea that platelets may provide a systemic marker of AD, and eventually be useful for the clinical diagnosis of the disease.
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    THE SENSORY PROJECTIONS OF DROSOPHILA MUTANTS WHICH SHOW ABNORMAL WING FORMATION OR FLYING BEHAVIOR
    (1987) INESTROSA, NC; SUNKEL, C; ARRIAGADA, J
    The central projection pattern of sensory neurones from the wing of Drosophila melanogaster arise from a small number of differentiated cell types which are localized in a precise and reproducible spatial pattern. We report here the distribution of the nerve pathways revealed by filling with peroxidase and the structure and number of the wing sensory receptors, in flies which have wings but which nevertheless are flightless, including one which presents abnormal wing formation. Our results indicate that in dumpy and taxi mutants, there are no detectable modifications in the neural projections or in the number and morphology of sensory receptors. Vestigial mutants however, present several alterations including the absence of the ovoid projection, a fact consistent with the existence of very few marginal bristles. The projection of the large campaniform sensilla branch profusely along the ventromedial tract and more sensory fibers cross the midline in the mesothorax. Wings of vestigal mutants show a decrease in the number of large companiform sensilla, and more importantly some receptors present abnormally oriented trichomes in the neighboring cells.