Carpenter, M. K., Crutcher, K. A., and Kater, S. B. (1993).
An analysis of the effects of Alzheimer's plaques on living neurons.
Neurobiology of Aging,14, (3):207-15.
Abstract
Although senile plaques represent a consistent neuropathological
feature in Alzheimer's brains, it is not known what role plaques
play in the etiology of the disease. Both growth-promoting and
growth-inhibiting influences have been postulated. One of the major
components in plaques, beta-amyloid, has been shown to affect neuron
survival and neurite outgrowth in vitro. Because plaques consist of
other components in addition to beta-amyloid, we undertook the
present study to determine whether neuronal survival and neurite
outgrowth are affected by the presence of a senile plaque. This was
accomplished by using cryostat sections from the cerebral cortex of
Alzheimer's patients as a substratum for cultured rat hippocampal
neurons. Evaluation of these living neurons on Alzheimer's tissue
demonstrated that senile plaques affect the amount, complexity, and
direction of neurite outgrowth. In addition, neurons were more
likely to extend processes away from plaques rather than toward a
plaque. Although cell survival on plaques and in control regions was
similar, cell survival was significantly reduced in the peri-plaque
region. These observations suggest that senile plaques could have
deleterious effects on neural organization in situ.
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