ISSN:
1432-0533
Keywords:
Monoamine oxidase-B
;
Astrocyte
;
Senile plaques
;
Dementia of Alzheimer type
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Monoamine oxidase (MAO) histochemistry has been performed in brains from patients with dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT) and aged controls. Conspicuous MAO-positive cell clusters were frequently observed in the amygdala, hippocampus, and insular cortex in the brains of DAT. Double staining with glial fibrillary acidic protein immunohistochemistry revealed that the clusterforming MAO-positive cells were astrocytes. Using Bielschowsky's method, Congo red and thioflavin S counterstaining, this astrocytic mass was shown to be associated with senile plaques. By the enzyme inhibition experiment, MAO activity in senile plaques was revealed to be of type B. The present results clearly indicate that MAO-B activity is expressed in fibrillary astrocytes in or around senile plaques, suggesting that these astrocytes metabolize exogenous amines in senile plaques.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00307697
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