Modified bielschowsky and immunocytochemical studies on cerebellar plaques in alzheimer’s disease

Toshihiko Suenaga, Asao Hirano, Josefina F. Llena, Hanna Ksiezak-Reding, Shu Hui Yen, Dennis W. Dickson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

Senile plaques (SP) in the cerebellum of 23 cases of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), three with widespread amyloid angiopathy, were studied with a modified Bielschowsky stain and immunocytochemical methods using antibodies to a beta-amyloid synthetic peptide (βASP), phosphorylated neurofilament proteins, ubiquitin, tau protein, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The four subtypes of SP (diffuse plaques, compact plaques, perivascular plaques, and subpial fibrillar deposits) that were observed with the modified Bielschowsky stain were also stained with antibodies to βASP. Many cerebellar SP contained ubiquitin-positive granular elements resembling dystrophic neurites. In contrast to neuritic elements in cerebral SP in AD, ubiquitin-positive elements in cerebellar SP were not labeled with antibodies to phosphorylated neurofilament or tau proteins. Various degrees of glial reaction were observed in all subtypes of SP except diffuse plaques. The absence of phosphorylated neurofilament and tau epitopes in neuritic elements in cerebellar SP is not surprising since paired helical filaments have not been seen in the cerebellum. Nevertheless, our results suggest that cerebellar SP are frequently associated with dystrophic neurites

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)31-40
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
Volume49
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1990

Keywords

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Bielschowsky stain
  • Cerebellum
  • Immunocytochemistry
  • Senile plaques
  • Tau protein
  • Ubiquitin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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