Open AccessImaging and Spectral Characteristics of Amyloid Plaque Autofluorescence in Brain Slices from the APP/PS1 Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Author(s) -
Yunling Gao,
Qing Liu,
Lingling Xu,
Ning Zheng,
Xinhua He,
Fuqiang Xu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
neuroscience bulletin/neuroscience bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1673-7067
pISSN - 1995-8218
DOI - 10.1007/s12264-019-00393-6
Subject(s) - autofluorescence , senile plaques , amyloid (mycology) , thioflavin , pathology , presenilin , alzheimer's disease , staining , chemistry , immunohistochemistry , β amyloid , medicine , fluorescence , disease , optics , physics
Amyloid deposits are one of the hallmark pathological lesions of Alzheimer's disease (AD). They can be visualized by thioflavin-S, silver impregnation, Congo red staining, and immunohistochemical reactions. However, that amyloid deposits generate blue autofluorescence (auto-F) has been ignored. Here, we report that visible light-induced auto-F of senile plaques (SPs) was detected and validated with conventional methods. Brain slices from APP/PS1 (amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1) transgenic mice were mounted on slides, rinsed, coverslipped and observed for details of the imaging and spectral characteristics of the auto-F of SPs. Then the slices were treated with the above classic methods for comparative validation. We found that the SP auto-F was greatest under blue-violet excitation with a specific emission spectrum, and was much easier, more sensitive, and reliable than the classic methods. Because it does not damage slices, observation of auto-F can be combined with all post-staining techniques in slices and for brain-wide imaging in AD.