Cholinergic Enzyme Systems in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

The levels of choline acetylase and cholinesterase in postmortem brain tissue were measured in Parkinson's disease cases, nonneurological illness cases, and accident victims. There was no significant difference between the parkinsonian and accident cases in any of the brain areas measured, although the younger accident victims had somewhat higher enzyme levels generally. Tyrosine hydroxylase was measurable in the basal ganglia of Parkinson's disease cases indicating the suggested impairment of brain catecholamine metabolism in this disease does not amount to a total block.