Skip to main content
Log in

Ultrastructural localization of argyrophilic substances in diffuse plaques of Alzheimer-type dementia demonstrated by methenamine silver staining

  • Regular Papers
  • Published:
Acta Neuropathologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The ultrastructure of argyrophilic substances in diffuse plaques of an Alzheimer-type dementia brain was examined using methenamine silver (MS) electron microscopy with the pre-embedding method. Electrondense substances, which were sparse aggregations of bundle-like structures with silver granules, were disseminated in the diffuse plaques. Comparison of serial MS and routine ultrathin sections revealed that diffuse plaques usually show scattered bundles of amyloid fibrils or amorphous materials, or both, between indistinct cell process membranes. Some of these processes were identified as astrocytic or dendritic in origin. A few degenerative neurites were frequently noted in large silver-positive areas but never in small areas. These findings suggest that the appearance of amyloid fibrils and amorphous materials between certain cell processes is a very morphological change in the process of senile plaque formation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Davies L (1988) A4 amyloid protein deposition and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: prevalence in aged brains determined by immunocytochemistry compared with conventional neuropathologic techniques. Neurology 38: 1688–1693

    Google Scholar 

  2. Glenner GG, Wong CW (1984) Alzheimer's disease: initial report of the purification and characterization of a novel cerebrovascular amyloid protein. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 120: 885–890

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ikeda K, Haga C, Kosaka K, Oyanagi S (1989) Senile plaque-like structures: observation of a probably unknown type senile plaques by periodic-acid methenamine silver (PAM) electron microscopy. Acta Neuropathol 78: 137–142

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ikeda S, Wong CW, Allsop D, Landon M, Kidd M, Glenner GG (1987) Immunogold labeling of cerebrovascular and neuritic plaque amyloid fibrils in Alzheimer's disease with an anti-β protein monoclonal antibody. Lab Invest 57: 446–449

    Google Scholar 

  5. Jones DB (1957) Nephrotic glomerulonephritis. Am J Pathol 33: 313–329

    Google Scholar 

  6. Khachaturian ZS (1985) Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Arch Neurol 42: 1097–1105

    Google Scholar 

  7. Mann DMA, Esiri MM (1989) The pattern of acquisition of plaques and tangles in the brains of patients under 50 years of age with Down's syndrome. J Neurol Sci 89: 169–179

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ogomori K (1989) β-protein amyloid is widely distributed in the central nervous system of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Am J Pathol 134: 243–251

    Google Scholar 

  9. Peters A, Palay SL, Webster HdeF (1976) The fine structure of the nervous system: the neurons and supporting cells, 1st edn. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 174–175

    Google Scholar 

  10. Powers JM, Skeen JT (1988) Ultrastructural heterogeneity in cerebral amyloid of Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol 76: 613–623

    Google Scholar 

  11. Rosemuller JM, Eikelenboom P, Stam FC, Beyreuther K, Masters CL (1989) A4 protein in Alzheimer's disease: primary and secondary cellular events in extracellular amyloid deposition. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 48: 674–691

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ulrich J (1985) Alzheimer changes in nondemented patients younger than sixty-five: possible early stages of Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia of alzheimer type. Ann Neurol 17: 273–277

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wisniewski HM, Terry RD (1973) Reexamination of the pathogenesis of the senile plaque. Prog Neuropathol 2: 1–26

    Google Scholar 

  14. Yamaguchi H, Hirai S, Morimatsu M, Shoji M, Ihara Y (1988) A variety of cerebral amyloid deposits in the brains of the Alzheimer-type dementia demonstrated by β protein immunostaining. Acta Neuropathol 76: 541–549

    Google Scholar 

  15. Yamaguchi H, Hirai S, Morimatsu M, Shoji M, Harigaya Y (1988) Diffuse type of senile plaques in the brains of Alzheimer-type dementia. Acta Neuropathol 77: 113–119

    Google Scholar 

  16. Yamaguchi H, Nakazato Y, Hirai S, Shoji M, Harigaya Y (1989) Electron micrograph of diffuse plaques: initial stage of senile plaque formation in the Alzheimer brain. Am J Pathol 135: 593–597

    Google Scholar 

  17. Yamaguchi H, Nakazato Y Hirai S, Shoji M (1990) Immunoelectron microscopic localization of amyloid β protein in the diffuse plaques of Alzheimer-type dementia. Brain Res 508: 320–324

    Google Scholar 

  18. Yamaguchi H, Haga C, Hirai S, Nakazato Y, Kosaka K (1990) Distinctive, rapid, and easy labeling of diffuse plaques in the alzheimer brains by a new methenamine silver stain. Acta Neuropathol 79: 569–572

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yamazaki, T., Yamaguchi, H., Okamoto, K. et al. Ultrastructural localization of argyrophilic substances in diffuse plaques of Alzheimer-type dementia demonstrated by methenamine silver staining. Acta Neuropathol 81, 540–545 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310135

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310135

Key words

Navigation