Dendritic Pathology and Spinal Loss in the Visual Cortex in Alzheimer's Disease: A Golgi Study in Pathology

ABSTRACT Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive decline in memory, loss of professional skills, impairment of judgement and behavior, and decline in social performances. In terms of neuropathology, the morphological hallmarks of the disease are the accu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of neuroscience 2011-07, Vol.121 (7), p.347-354
Main Authors: Mavroudis, Ioannis A., Fotiou, Dimitrios F., Manani, Marina G., Njaou, Samuel N., Frangou, Domna, Costa, Vasiliki G., Baloyannis, Stavros J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alzheimer Disease - pathology
Alzheimer's disease
Cell Count
Cell Size
Dendrites - pathology
Female
Focal Adhesions - pathology
Golgi method
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Male
Neurofibrillary Tangles - pathology
Neurons - pathology
Pyramidal Cells - pathology
Pyramidal Tracts - pathology
Silver Staining
Spinal Cord - pathology
visual cortex
Visual Cortex - pathology
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Summary:ABSTRACT Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive decline in memory, loss of professional skills, impairment of judgement and behavior, and decline in social performances. In terms of neuropathology, the morphological hallmarks of the disease are the accumulation of alpha-beta peptide and the neurofibrillary degeneration, associated with synaptic alterations, involving mostly the dendritic spines. This study is based on the morphological analysis of 10 brains, 5 of which were obtained from patients who suffered from Alzheimer's disease and 5 from nondemented senile individuals used as control group. The segments taken in major from the occipital lobe were studied with the use of Golgi method, as well as Gallyas' and Bielschowski' s staining methods. In most of the pyramidal cells in the affected brains, there seems to be important spine loss and extensive dendrite pathology. Apical dendrites are distorted and tortuous. Horizontal dendritic arborization is severely decreased leading to an amputated, bell-shaped cell soma. Senile plaques have been often revealed, and neurofibrillary changes have also been noticed.
ISSN:0020-7454
1563-5279
1543-5245
DOI:10.3109/00207454.2011.553753