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Demonstration of β amyloid protein‐containing neurofibrillary tangles in parkinsonism‐dementia complex on Guam
Author(s) -
ITO H.,
HIRANO A.,
YEN S. H.,
KATO S.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
neuropathology and applied neurobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.538
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1365-2990
pISSN - 0305-1846
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2990.1991.tb00736.x
Subject(s) - senile plaques , pathology , amyloid (mycology) , neurofibrillary tangle , parkinsonism , chemistry , temporal lobe , alzheimer's disease , medicine , neuroscience , biology , disease , epilepsy
This Report concerns the immunohistochemical demonstration of β amyloid protein‐containing neurofibrillary tangles (β‐NFTs) from patients with parkinsonism‐dementia complex on Guam (PDC). Formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue sections from the temporal lobe of nine PDC cases and the spinal cord of three were examined. An affinity‐purified antibody to the N‐terminal peptide sequence of p amyloid protein was used. β‐NFTs were demonstrated in the temporal lobes of the three oldest individuals. Some senile plaques, probably a manifestation of ageing, were also seen. The β‐NFTs were most frequent in the entorhinal cortex. Senile plaques were invariably present in the vicinity of the β‐NFTs. Conversely, in the regions without senile plaques, even though numerous neurofibrillary tangles were identifiable with the modified Bielschowsky method, no β‐NFTs were seen. The density of β‐NFTs appeared to be proportional to that of senile plaques, none was seen in cases lacking senile plaques. No β‐NFTs were detected in the spinal cords. Our data suggest that β‐NFTs result from secondary P amyloid deposition on certain neurofibrillary tangles.