The vascular factor in Alzheimer's disease: A study in Golgi technique and electron microscopy
Abstract
Although the etiopathological background of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is mostly associated with the deposition of Αβ-peptide, the hyperphosphorylation of τ protein, the synaptic pathology and the mitochondrial alterations, the vascular factor may play substantial role in plotting the multifactorial pattern of the disease. We attempted to study the blood capillaries in the hippocampus, the acoustic, the visual and the parietal cortex in twelve early cases of Alzheimer's disease. Samples were processed for Golgi silver impregnation technique and electron microscopy. The morphological findings were compared with normal controls. The study of the brain capillaries in cases of AD, revealed numerous fusiform dilatations, tortuosities, abnormal branching and fusion, though the morphometric estimation revealed a decrease of the number of capillaries per mm(3) in comparison with normal control brains. The ultrastructural study revealed mitochondrial abnormalities in the endothelial cells of a substantial number of capillaries and marked degeneration of the pericytes. Perivascular microglial proliferation was also prominent in the hippocampus and the parietal lobe. Our findings both in Golgi staining and electron microscopy plead in favor of the essential role that the microvascular alterations may play in the broad pathogenetic spectrum of AD.
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In Alzheimer's disease, post mortem human studies show reduced capillary length and microvascular degeneration with diminished tight junction protein expression, capillary basement membrane alterations, and brain endothelial degeneration.
“Further evidence of BBB breakdown in AD is repeatedly observed in numerous post mortem human studies showing reduced capillary length and microvascular degeneration with diminished TJ protein expression, capillary basement membrane alterations, and brain endothelial degeneration (36, 40, 230, 516, 527, 656).”
From Blood-Brain Barrier: From Physiology to Disease and Back (2019) · cites this paper as [40]
Ultrastructural studies using electron microscopy reveal accumulations of osmiophilic materials in the capillary mural cells in AD cortex suggestive of pericyte loss.
“Ultrastructural studies using electron microscopy reveal accumulations of osmiophilic materials in the capillary mural cells in AD cortex suggestive of pericyte loss (40, 170).”
From Blood-Brain Barrier: From Physiology to Disease and Back (2019) · cites this paper as [40]
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- Authors
- Baloyannis, S. J., & Baloyannis, I. S.
- Affiliations
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR)
- Venue
- Journal of the Neurological Sciences
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-11
- Volume
- 322
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 117-121
- ISSN
- 0022-510X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2055672184
- Cited by
- 150
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 6.63
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the Neurological Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Barrier Structure and Function Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease, cerebral microvasculature, blood capillaries, endothelial ultrastructure, mitochondrial abnormalities, pericyte degeneration, hippocampus, early Alzheimer's disease
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, Brain, Endothelium, Vascular, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Radionuclide Imaging, Silver Staining, Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
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