Loss of cortical GABA uptake sites in Alzheimer's disease

[3H]Nipecotic acid bound to membranes of human brain in a saturable, reversible manner which was totally dependent on the presence of sodium ions. The potencies of compounds in inhibiting the specific binding of [3H]nipecotic acid were closely correlated with their potencies in inhibiting the neuronal uptake of [3H]GABA. Compounds selective for GABA receptors were inactive. [3H]Nipecotic acid appears to label neuronal high affinity GABA uptake sites. The binding of [3H]nipecotic acid was substantially reduced in the temporal cortex of brains from subjects with Alzheimer-type dementia, but not in other brain regions. It is concluded that some loss of GABA terminals occurs in this disease.