Failure of neuronal maturation in Alzheimer disease dentate gyrus.

Abstract

The dentate gyrus, an important anatomic structure of the hippocampal formation, is one of the major areas in which neurogenesis takes place in the adult mammalian brain. Neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus is thought to play an important role in hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. Neurogenesis has been reported to be increased in the dentate gyrus of patients with Alzheimer disease, but it is not known whether the newly generated neurons differentiate into mature neurons. In this study, the expression of the mature neuronal marker high molecular weight microtubule-associated protein (MAP) isoforms MAP2a and b was found to be dramatically decreased in Alzheimer disease dentate gyrus, as determined by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. The total MAP2, including expression of the immature neuronal marker, the MAP2c isoform, was less affected. These findings suggest that newly generated neurons in Alzheimer disease dentate gyrus do not become mature neurons, although neuroproliferation is increased.

• Authors: Bin Li, Hidenaga Yamamori, Yoshitaka Tatebayashi, Bridget Shafit-Zagardo, Hitoshi Tanimukai, She Chen, Khalid Iqbal, Inge Grundke-Iqbal
• Journal: Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology (J Neuropathol Exp Neurol) Vol. 67 Issue 1 Pg. 78-84 (Jan 2008) ISSN: 0022-3069 [Print] England
• PMID: 18091557 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• MAP2 protein, human
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Alzheimer Disease (pathology)
• Animals
• Case-Control Studies
• Cell Proliferation
• Dentate Gyrus (pathology, physiopathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Neurons (physiology)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar