Amyloid load and neural elements in Alzheimer's disease and nondemented individuals with high amyloid plaque density

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The amyloid burden and relationship between amyloid deposits and neural elements were investigated in sections of prefrontal neocortex from eight Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and four age-matched nondemented controls with high amyloid plaque density (HPND). Computer-based image analysis revealed that the total area occupied by βA4 immunoreactivity was significantly greater (P < 0.031) in AD (27.1%) than in HPND (14.5%) sections. The total βA4-positive area occupied by nondiffuse plaques was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in AD (13.6%) than in HPND (5.2%) sections. The percentage of diffuse (DPs) and nondiffuse plaques (NHPs) which contained neurons, astrocytes, microglia, dystrophic neurites, and amyloid precursor protein (APP) was also determined. The frequency of association between βA4 and these neural elements was similar between AD and HPND cases in both diffuse and nondiffuse plaques. Forty percent of DPs in AD and HPND sections contained neuronal perikarya. Microglia, dystrophic neurites, and APP were detected in most nondiffuse plaques in both AD and HPND sections. While astrocyte cell bodies were not present in either diffuse or nondiffuse plaques, their processes were detected in most. These findings indicate that amyloid deposition and nondiffuse plaques are greater in AD than in HPND sections. The association between microglia and nondiffuse plaques supports the hypothesis that these resident immune cells participate in aggregation and redistribution of amyloid deposits and possibly formation of dystrophic neurites.

Publication Date

1-1-1996

Publication Title

Experimental Neurology

ISSN

00144886

Volume

142

Issue

1

First Page

89

Last Page

102

PubMed ID

8912901

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1006/exnr.1996.0181

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