In situ Hybridization of Nucleus Basalis Neurons Shows Increased β -amyloid mRNA in Alzheimer Disease
Abstract
To determine which cells within the brain produce β -amyloid mRNA and to assess expression of the β -amyloid gene in Alzheimer disease, we analyzed brain tissue from Alzheimer and control patients by in situ hybridization. Our results demonstrate that β -amyloid mRNA is produced by neurons in the nucleus basalis of Meynert and cerebral cortex and that nucleus basalis perikarya from Alzheimer patients consistently hybridize more β -amyloid probe than those from controls. These observations support the hypothesis that increased expression of the β -amyloid gene plays an important role in the deposition of amyloid in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- February 1988
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.85.4.1227
- Bibcode:
- 1988PNAS...85.1227C