Does amyloid precede paired helical filaments in the senile plaque? A study of 15 cases with graded intellectual status in aging and Alzheimer disease

Neurosci Lett. 1988 Sep 12;91(3):354-9. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(88)90706-9.

Abstract

The density of senile plaques in 15 women over 75 years of age was higher when evaluated by thioflavine S than by immunocytochemistry with a polyclonal antibody against paired helical filaments. Mental status had been prospectively assessed in this cohort by the test score of Blessed et al. A difference between the two methods was found whatever the degree of mental impairment. Senile plaques were exceptionally immunolabeled in the least affected cases. This could not be explained only by differences in sensitivity of the stains and suggests that the amyloid is surrounded by anti-PHF positive neurites only in the latest stages of the senile plaque.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aging / metabolism
  • Aging / pathology*
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Amyloid / analysis*
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods*
  • Intermediate Filaments / analysis
  • Intermediate Filaments / pathology
  • Staining and Labeling / methods*
  • Thiazoles

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Thiazoles
  • thioflavin T