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HIPPOCAMPAL NEURONAL LOSS IN THE CA1 AND CA3 AREAS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE PATIENTS

Manuela Padurariu ; “Gr. T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
Alin Ciobica ; "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University, Iasi, Romania
Ioannis Mavroudis ; Laboratory of Neuropathology and Electron Microscopy, First Department of Neurology, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Dimitrios Fotiou ; Laboratory of Neuropathology and Electron Microscopy, First Department of Neurology, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Stavros Baloyannis ; Laboratory of Neuropathology and Electron Microscopy, First Department of Neurology, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Sažetak

Background: It is believed that in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) some areas of the brain are particularly vulnerable to specific
degenerative processes and that they could exhibit neuronal dysfunction in the earliest stage of the disease. The implications of the
hippocampus in memory processes are very well known and it is likely that the hippocampus would be among the first areas of the
brain affected by the pathogenic mechanisms occurring in AD. However, the distinction between the neurodegenerative changes that
accompany normal ageing and those that characterize AD is not clear. Also, the distribution of the hippocampal cell loss in both
normal aging and AD is not very well understood.
Subjects and methods: In this context, we focused on the quantification of the neuronal density in the four specific areas of the
hippocampus (CA1-CA4) of AD brains, as compared to an age-matched control group, by using the Nissl staining technique.
Results: We found a significant reduction of neuronal density especially in the CA1 and CA3 hippocampal areas. The most
prominent decrease was found at the CA1 area level, as compared to all other 3 areas which were analyzed.
Conclusions: In the present study we managed to demonstrate and confirm a significant neuronal loss of hippocampus in AD, as
compared to an age-matched control group. Moreover, it seems that this decrease of hippocampal neuronal density is more
prominent especially at the CA1 and also in the CA3 hippocampal areas. This could have important implications in the design of
therapeutic and investigative strategies of AD. However, larger samples are necessary in order to provide the basis for firmer
conclusions in this area of research.

Ključne riječi

Alzheimer’s disease; hippocampus; CA1; CA4 areas; Nissl staining

Hrčak ID:

106217

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/106217

Datum izdavanja:

24.6.2012.

Posjeta: 3.095 *