Neuropil threads are collinear with MAP2 immunostaining in neuronal dendrites of Alzheimer brain

J. Wesson Ashford, Natalie S. Soultanian, Shu Xin Zhang, James W. Geddes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Alzheimer disease (AD) neuropathology includes neuropil threads (NTs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). In tangle-bearing neurons, the normal cytoskeleton is severely disrupted and replaced with paired helical filament (PHF) aggregates of aberrantly phosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau. In this study, double-label immunocytochemistry was used to clarify the relationship between the appearance of neurofibrillary pathology (NTs and NFTs) and the loss of normal cytoskeletal components, such as microtubule- associated protein 2 (MAP2) in 13 AD cases and 6 nondemented elderly control individuals. Brain areas examined included neocortex (cingulate, motor, and inferior parietal cortices), hippocampus, and entorhinal cortex. In mildly affected neurons, PHF-1 immunostained NTs were found in dendrites, frequently at dendritic branch points, and were adjacent to MAP2 immunostaining. In more severely affected neurons, the PHF-1 immunoreactivity occupied distinct dendritic segments and appeared to displace MAP2. Interspersed MAP2 immunopositive dendritic segments were often beaded in appearance. In all instances where dendrites with NTs could be traced back to the soma, the soma also contained PHF-1 immunostained fibrils in various stages of NFT formation. The results suggest that PHFs gradually displace normal microtubules in dendrites, and cause degeneration of dendritic segments between NTs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)972-978
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
Volume57
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1998

Keywords

  • Alzheimer disease
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Neurodegeneration
  • Paired helical filaments
  • Tau

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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