NEUROFIBRILLARY PATHOLOGY AND PROTEIN SYNTHETIC CAPABILITY IN NERVE CELLS IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Abstract

Nucleolar volume was measured in nerve cells of the temporal cortex in cases of Alzheimer''s disease, obtained at biopsy and autopsy. Nerve cells containing neurofibrillary tangles, and those free of such changes were measured. Nucleolar volume was significantly reduced, by at least 40%, in tangle and non-tangle bearing cells in biopsy and autopsy cases when compared with corresponding values from appropriate control cases. In the autopsy cases nerve cell nucleolar volume was reduced by a further 30% in tangle bearing cells compared to non-tangle bearing neighbors. No difference was noted in these cells in the biopsy cases. Alterations in protein synthetic capability apparently occur in nerve cells early in the course of Alzheimer''s disease and this change is not, at least in these initial stages, related to accumulation of neurofibrillary material within the cell body. Later accumulation may result in added disruption of cell metabolism.