title: Is the clustering of beta-amyloid (A beta) deposits in the frontal cortex of Alzheimer patients determined by blood vessels?
abstract: The clustering pattern of diffuse, primitive and classic beta-amyloid (A beta) deposits was studied in the upper laminae of the frontal cortex of 9 patients with sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). A beta stained tissue was counterstained with collagen type IV antiserum to determine whether the clusters of A beta deposits were related to blood vessels. In all patients, A beta deposits and blood vessels were clustered, with in many patients, a regular periodicity of clusters along the cortex parallel to the pia. The classic A beta deposit clusters coincided with those of the larger blood vessels in all patients and with clusters of smaller blood vessels in 4 patients. Diffuse deposit clusters were related to blood vessels in 3 patients. Primitive deposit clusters were either unrelated to or negatively correlated with the blood vessels in six patients. Hence, A beta deposit subtypes differ in their relationship to blood vessels. The data suggest a direct and specific role for the larger blood vessels in the formation of amyloid cores in AD.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides