Abnormalities of lipoprotein and carbohydrate metabolism in degenerative diseases of the nervous system--motor neuron disease and spinocerebellar degeneration.

The levels of plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and plasma triglyceride were determined in 44 patients with motor neuron disease (MND) and in 36 patients with spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD). In both groups the HDL cholesterol levels were significantly lower than those in healthy controls, whereas the plasma triglyceride levels were higher than those in the controls. Glucose levels during the oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) were significantly higher in both MND and SCD groups than in healthy controls. Immunoreactive insulin (IRI) levels during GTT were rather higher at 0 and 120 min in both MND and SCD groups than in healthy controls. Glycosylated hemoglobin levels were lower in MND than in the controls. These results indicate that both lipoprotein and carbohydrate metabolisms were impaired in MND and SCD groups. The possibility was presented that denervation might play a part in the pathogenesis of abnormalities of lipoprotein and carbohydrate metabolisms.