Neuronal size and density in the nucleus basalis of Meynert in Alzheimer's disease.
Neuronal size and density were measured in the nucleus basalis of Meynert in 7 elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 7 controls. The number of neurons in AD patients was reduced to 36% of the control value. The population of large neurons (perikaryonal diameter greater than 30 micron) had disappeared almost completely. In addition to cell death, shrinkage may play a role, since there were relatively more neurons in the small size classes in the AD patients than in the controls. The nuclear diameter was reduced to 79% of the control values, and the perikaryonal diameter to 75%, and thus the cytoplasm/nucleus ratio was close to equal in the two groups. Correlations of the morphometric measurements with choline acetyltransferase activities and muscarinic receptor binding are also presented.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D011813:Quinuclidinyl Benzilate / Q000378:metabolism; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000032:analysis; D013377:Substantia Innominata / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*
D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011813:Quinuclidinyl Benzilate; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase