Increased expression of beta-catenin in brain microvessels of a segmentally trisomic (Ts65Dn) mouse model of Down syndrome.
We examined the distribution of beta-catenin and endogenous blood serum albumin at the ultrastructural level in blood microvessels (capillaries) from brains of control and trisomic Ts65Dn mice. Morphological examination revealed an increased immunolabeling for beta-catenin in endothelial substructures of the capillary network, such as intercellular junctions, cytoplasm, and nuclei. These immunosignals were significantly increased in all endothelial substructures from trisomic mice. These changes, however, did not affect the blood-brain barrier function of the entire microvascular network, because the increased uptake of albumin by endothelial cells and the eventual escape of this protein (microleakage) into the perivascular neuropil were noted only in a few capillary profiles. Nevertheless, these findings suggest the involvement of some segments of the microvascular network in the brain pathology associated with DS.
Vorbrodt
Andrzej W
AW
New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA.
Li
Shuyun
S
Brown
W Ted
WT
Ramakrishna
Narayan
N
D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D055806:Microvessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014314:Trisomy; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
D000418:Albumins; D051176:beta Catenin