Quantitative estimations of the entorhinal cortex in Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To detect and quantify structural parameters in the entorhinal cortex (EC) of potential use in Alzheimer's disease (AD).


METHODS
We estimated by stereologic tools the total volume of the EC and subfields EI and ER, the number of neurons and the volume-weighted mean soma volume of layer II neurons. EC morphometric parameters were also assessed in both control and AD cases.


RESULTS
In AD, EC volume decreased by 35%, while total number of neurons reached 51%. Also, neuron density had a significant decrease mainly due to change in the EI subfield (31% decrease). The EC showed a decrease in size and a morphology more elliptic and irregular. Moreover, layer II neurons soma size (volume, area, and 1-dimensional parameters) were more rounded. Thus the EC decreases in size and neuron number in AD and minor changes in number per volume were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
These quantitative data can be of value in volumetric MRI studies in AD patients.
Artacho-Pérula
Emilio
E
Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Regional Center for Biomedical Investigation, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain. emilio.artacho@uclm.es
Insausti
Ricardo
R
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D018728:Entorhinal Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology