TY - JOUR
T1 - Acetylcholinesterase activity in senile plaques of aged macaques
AU - Struble, Robert G.
AU - Hedreen, John C.
AU - Cork, Linda C.
AU - Price, Donald L.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank Drs. Bowman and Suomi (Wisconsin Primate Center) and the Carribean Primate Center of the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine for making these aged animals available for study. The authors acknowledge very helpful discussions with Drs. Peter J. Whitehouse, Mahlon R. DeLong, Susan J. Mitchell, Cheryl A. Kitt, Lary C. Walker, and John Lehmann. Mrs. Carla Jordon and Ms. Nancy Cook provided excellent assist- ance in the preparation of this manuscript. Ms. Jeanette Morris, Ms. Barbara Holden, and Ms. Sarah Bacon helped with histochemical tissue preparations. This work was supported by grants from the United States Public Health Service (NIH AG 03359, NS 07179, NS 10580, NS 15721, NS 20471, and NS 17074) and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Cork is the recipient of a Research Career Development Award (NIH NS 00488).
PY - 1984
Y1 - 1984
N2 - A modified acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-histochemical technique, which demonstrates axonal morphology to a high degree, was used to examine the neocortices of aged monkeys. This approach disclosed slender linear axonal profiles in young animals. In older monkeys, there was a variety of abnormalities of AChE-containing fibers, including multifocal distentions of individual fibers and aggregations of neuritesized, AChE-rich swellings. Combined with thioflavin-T staining to visualize amyloid, this histochemical technique showed that some of these AChE-containing fibers were present in proximity to deposits of amyloid. This association suggests that abnormal AChE-rich axons participate in the formation of some senile plaques in the neocortices of aged nonhuman primates. While it is probable that many of these AChE-rich fibers are axons of cholinergic neurons residing in the basal forebrain, it is also likely that some of these fibers are derived from noncholinergic neuronal populations known to synthesize AChE. Immunocytochemical strategies can be used to assess the involvement of other systems, including cholinergic, noradrenergic, dopaminergic, somatostatinergic, and serotonergic neurons in the formation of senile plaques in the brains of aged nonhuman primates.
AB - A modified acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-histochemical technique, which demonstrates axonal morphology to a high degree, was used to examine the neocortices of aged monkeys. This approach disclosed slender linear axonal profiles in young animals. In older monkeys, there was a variety of abnormalities of AChE-containing fibers, including multifocal distentions of individual fibers and aggregations of neuritesized, AChE-rich swellings. Combined with thioflavin-T staining to visualize amyloid, this histochemical technique showed that some of these AChE-containing fibers were present in proximity to deposits of amyloid. This association suggests that abnormal AChE-rich axons participate in the formation of some senile plaques in the neocortices of aged nonhuman primates. While it is probable that many of these AChE-rich fibers are axons of cholinergic neurons residing in the basal forebrain, it is also likely that some of these fibers are derived from noncholinergic neuronal populations known to synthesize AChE. Immunocytochemical strategies can be used to assess the involvement of other systems, including cholinergic, noradrenergic, dopaminergic, somatostatinergic, and serotonergic neurons in the formation of senile plaques in the brains of aged nonhuman primates.
KW - Acetylcholinesterase
KW - Aging nonhuman primates
KW - Cholinergic neurons
KW - Senile plaques
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U2 - 10.1016/0197-4580(84)90062-9
DO - 10.1016/0197-4580(84)90062-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 6514105
AN - SCOPUS:0021683669
SN - 0197-4580
VL - 5
SP - 191
EP - 198
JO - Neurobiology of aging
JF - Neurobiology of aging
IS - 3
ER -