Hypocretin-1 (orexin-A) levels in human lumbar CSF in different age groups: infants to elderly persons.

STUDY

OBJECTIVES

Recent CSF and postmortem brain hypocretin measurements in human narcolepsy suggest that hypocretin deficiency is involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. In this study, we measured CSF hypocretin-1 levels in various age ranges from infants to elder people to investigate the age-dependent change of hypocretin concentrations.

DESIGN

CSF hypocretin levels were compared by age groups and gender. ANOVA was used to examine the influences of these two parameters on CSF hypocretin levels.

SETTING

University-based sleep and biology laboratory.

PATIENTS OR

PARTICIPANTS

Two hundred seventy two patients were included in this study, with 157 males and 115 females (0-79 years old).

INTERVENTIONS: CSF samples were obtained by lumber punctures with informed consents.

MEASUREMENTS AND

RESULTS

Hypocretin-1 levels are not different in respect to gender or age, although our samples constitute a heterogeneous group with various disease conditions. CSF hypocretin-1 levels in infants under 4 months are similar to those in adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Early maturation of hypocretin transmission is suggested. No age- or gender-dependent changes in CSF hypocretin is observed.