Familial influence on plaque formation in the beagle brain

Michael J. Russell, Russell White, Ela Patel, William R. Markesbery, Charles R. Watson, James W. Geddes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aged canines exhibit central neuropathological changes strikingly similar to those seen in patients with Alzheimer's disease. In this study, brain tissue from pure bred beagles raised in a controlled environment were examined for Alzheimer-like pathology. The mean age of the animals was 15.6 years. The incidence of plaques among these 29 dogs was 65.5%. Of the 19 samples that demonstrated Alzheimer-like pathology, 18 were characterized as diffuse and one as neuritic. Plaque density was found to be independent of age. Plaque numbers were highest in the perirhinal cortex and the adjacent temporal cortex. Familial influence on plaque development is supported by congruence within 15 of the 16 litters examined (p < 0.001). In this environmentally controlled group the diffuse plaques were rarely converted to the dense neuritic plaques found in Alzheimer's disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1093-1096
Number of pages4
JournalNeuroReport
Volume3
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1992

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Amyloid
  • Animal model
  • Canine dementia
  • Dogs
  • Genetics
  • Senile plaques

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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