ISSN:
0942-0940
Keywords:
Alzheimer's disease
;
nucleus basalis magnocellularis
;
neural transplantation
;
subarachnoid space
;
passive avoidance memory
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Basal forebrain cells of foetal rats were transplanted into the subarachnoid space of adult rats harbouring a kainic acid-induced unilateral lesion in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis. Passive avoidance response tests were performed eight weeks after the transplantation, and the results were compared with those of lesioned but non-transplanted rats and of non-lesioned control rats. Although acquisition impairments did not improve, retention impairments were significantly ameliorated in the transplanted rats. Histologically, transplanted foetal neurons survived and grew very well over the cortical surface, and exhibited facilitated neuritic elongation on acetylcholinesterase staining. Choline acetyl-transferaseimmunoreactive neurons were found along the needle track as well as in the subarachnoid graft tissues. The results seem to indicate that not the re-innervation from the graft to the host cortex but the diffusional supply of neurotransmitters and/or their synthetic enzymes and neurotrophic factors were responsible for improvement of memory deficits. The subarachnoid space proved to be an adequate place for growth of transplanted neuronal and glial cells for reasons of ample supply of oxygen and nutrition and of low tissue pressure.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01404951
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