Evaluation of an Analogue of Somatostatin (L363,586) in Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

To the Editor: Several neuropeptides have been implicated in the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease.¹ The interaction of peptidergic systems, such as those involving somatostatin, with aminergic neurons also suggests that they may be involved in this illness.² To date, only somatostatin has been found to be reduced in post-mortem brain tissue^{3 , 4} and cerebrospinal fluid^{5 6 7} of patients with Alzheimer's disease.In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, we attempted to modulate peptidergic or cholinergic neurotransmission⁸ by evaluating an analogue of somatostatin, L363,586 (Merck Sharp and Dohme). This analogue has been demonstrated to be approximately 50 times more potent in neuropeptide modulation than . . .