title: beta-Amyloid precursor protein (APP)-like immunoreactivity in the human sympathetic ganglia.
abstract: The localization of the beta/A4 amyloid precursor protein (APP) was studied in the human lumbar paravertebral sympathetic ganglia of subjects of different ages, free of neurologic disease, using combined immunohistochemistry and image analysis techniques (optic microdensitometry). To ascertain which cells displayed APP-like immunoreactivity (APP-LI), S-100 and neurofilament proteins were studied in parallel to label the supporting glial cells and the neuron perikarya, respectively. Specific APP-LI was observed labelling both neuron cell bodies and supporting glial cells independently of age. In all cases, the intensity of immunostaining was stronger in glial cells than in neurons. Moreover, the intensity of APP-LI was independent of both age and neuron size. Present results provide evidence for the presence of APP-LI in the human sympathetic ganglia, and for the absence of changes in the expression of this protein, or proteins, with aging. The functional and clinical relevance of these findings remains to be clarified.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Morfologia y Biologia Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Calzada
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabal
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Naves
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: del Valle
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Represa
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vega
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins