Decreased neuronal activity in the nucleus basalis of Meynert in Alzheimer's disease as suggested by the size of the Golgi apparatus

• Published in: Neuroscience Vol. 59; no. 4; p. 871
• Main Authors: Salehi, A, Lucassen, P J, Pool, C W, Gonatas, N K, Ravid, R, Swaab, D F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-04-1994
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease - pathology; Alzheimer Disease - physiopathology; Cell Size; Female; Golgi Apparatus - ultrastructure; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Male; Middle Aged; Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism; Substantia Innominata - metabolism; Substantia Innominata - physiopathology; Substantia Innominata - ultrastructure
• ISSN: 0306-4522
• DOI: 10.1016/0306-4522(94)90291-7

In order to study changes in neuronal activity in the nucleus basalis of Meynert in aging and Alzheimer's disease, we applied a polyclonal antibody directed against the Golgi apparatus on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material. Subsequently, an image analysis system was used to measure the size of the Golgi apparatus in (i) all nucleus basalis neurons and also separately in (ii) the remaining large cells (perikaryonal diameter > 30 microns). A significant reduction of 49% in the size of the Golgi apparatus was found in the entire population of nucleus basalis neurons in Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, although there was no significant decrease in the size of the persisting large neurons in the nucleus basalis of Meynert, a significantly decreased size of the Golgi apparatus was found in these neurons in Alzheimer's disease. These results suggest that the overall activity of nucleus basalis neurons is severely decreased in Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, these data support the idea that atrophy and decreased activity are the main phenomena in the nucleus basalis in Alzheimer's disease; they also indicate that the size of the Golgi apparatus is a sensitive parameter to follow this process.