Cholinesterases colocalize with sites of neurofibrillary degeneration in aged and Alzheimer's brains

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase have been associated with structures undergoing neurofibrillary degeneration, as well as with all types of senile plaques, in non-demented aged and Alzheimer's brains. At the electron microscope level, the reaction product of both enzymes, appeared to decorate paired helical filaments, straight filaments and βA4 amyloid fibrils. Recent studies showed that cholinesterases were associated with amyloid at early stages, e.g., in diffuse plaques. In the present study, the interrelationship of cholinesterases to structures undergoing neurofibrillary degeneration was analyzed further. Tau immunoreactivity was compared to the staining pattern observed with the two esterases. Double protocols consecutively performed on the same sections, and counterstaining with thioflavin-S, confirmed the presence of cholinesterases in all structures with neurofibrillary degeneration. The conclusion that cholinesterases consistently colocalize with both neurofibrillary bundles and βA4 amyloid fibrils at all stages of their accumulation, allows us to speculate on the possible role that these enzymes may play in either the formation or the consolidation of fibrillary aggregates. © 1994 Springer-Verlag.

Keywords

Acetylcholinesterase, Butyrylcholinesterase, Degenerated neurites, Tangle, Tau protein

Publication Date

3-1-1994

Publication Title

Acta Neuropathologica

ISSN

00016322

E-ISSN

14320533

Volume

87

Issue

3

First Page

284

Last Page

292

PubMed ID

8009960

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1007/BF00296744

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