Terminal coma affects messenger RNA detection in post mortem human temporal cortex.

Author(s): Harrison PJ, Procter AW, Barton AJ, Lowe SL, Najlerahim A, Bertolucci PH, Bowen DM, Pearson RC

Publication: Brain Res Mol Brain Res, 1991, Vol. 9, Page 161-4

PubMed ID: 1673215 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of terminal coma duration (1 h to more than 24 h) and Alzheimer's disease or other neuropsychiatric disorders on the M1 and poly(A) RNA ISH signal, and GAD activity.

   Summary of Findings:

   A significant inverse correlation between coma duration with levels of M1 ISH signal(r=-0.79; p<0.001) and GAD activity (r=-0.48; p<0.05), but not total poly A ISH signal was found. In the case of terminal coma lasting more than 24 hours, the M1 ISH signal was only 50% of that if coma duration was 1-24 h. In contrast GAD activity plateaued by 24 h at 36% of levels found if coma duration was less than 1 h. A correlation between the M1 ISH signal and GAD activity was also observed (r=0.52; p<0.02). No significant effects of patient age, sex or postmortem interval were found, but data was not shown. No effect of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological diseases were observed and Alzheimer's disease did not effect average coma duration. The authors conclude that coma duration specifically impacts M1 mRNA and GAD activity and that further studies will be necessary to determine if the effect on these two markers represents a decline due to an increase in other transcripts or a specific effect on M1 and GAD.

   Biospecimens

   • Tissue - Brain

   Preservative Types

   • Frozen
   • Formalin

   Diagnoses:

   • Alzheimer's Disease
   • Normal
   • Other diagnoses
   • Autopsy

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   RNA	In situ hybridization
   Protein	Enzyme assay

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Preaquisition	Rapidity of death	Coma duration of less than 1 h Coma duration of 1-24 h Coma duration of more than 24 h
   Preaquisition	Diagnosis/ patient condition	Alzheimer's disease Other neuropsychiatric disorder Normal
   In situ hybridization Specific	Targeted nucleic acid	Polyadenylated (PolyA) RNA M1 subtype of the muscarinic receptor

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