Original scientific paper

DENDRITIC AND SPINAL PATHOLOGY OF THE PURKINJE CELLS FROM THE HUMAN CEREBELLAR VERMIS IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Ioannis A. Mavroudis orcid.org/0000-0001-9844-4010 ; Laboratory of Neuropathology, First Department of Neurology, AHEPA Hospital, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Marina G. Manani ; Laboratory of Neuropathology, First Department of Neurology, AHEPA Hospital, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Foivos Petrides ; Laboratory of Neuropathology, First Department of Neurology, AHEPA Hospital, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Konstantina Petsoglou ; Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Samuel D. Njau ; Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Vasiliki G. Costa ; Laboratory of Neuropathology, First Department of Neurology, AHEPA Hospital, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Research Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease, Iraklion, Langada, Greece
Stavros J. Baloyannis ; Laboratory of Neuropathology, First Department of Neurology, AHEPA Hospital, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Research Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease, Iraklion, Langada, Greece

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease constitutes one of the main causes of dementia. It is clinically characterized by memory
impairment, deterioration of intellectual faculties and loss of professional skills. Furthermore changes in equilibrium and limb
coordination are clinically demonstrable in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. In the present study we tried to figure out possible
changes of the Purkinje cells in Alzheimer’s disease brains.
Subjects and methods: We studied the Purkinje cells from the vermis of the cerebellum in 5 Alzheimer’ disease brains Golgi
technique.
Results: In the Purkinje cells from the inferior surface of the cerebellar hemispheres severe dendritic and spinal pathology
consisting of loss of distal dendritic segments and alterations of dendritic spine morphology can be noticed in Alzheimer’s disease
brains.
Conclusions: The morphological and morphometric estimation of the dendrites and the dendritic spines of the Purkinje cells
from the inferior surface of the cerebellar hemispheres in Alzheimer’s disease brains revealed substantial alterations of the dendritic
arborization and marked loss of the dendritic spines, which may be related to cognitive impairment and motor deficits in Alheimer’s
disease.

Keywords

Alzheimer’s disease – cerebellum - Purkinje cells - Golgi method

Hrčak ID:

161191

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/161191

Publication date:

17.9.2013.

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