Results of immunocytochemical, neurochemical, and behavioral studies in aluminum-induced neurofilamentous degeneration.

We undertook a series of experiments designed to further characterize behavioral, neurochemical and immunocytochemical features of aluminum neurotoxicity in the rabbit. Aluminum-exposed rabbits developed learning and memory deficits which were strongly correlated with the degree of whole brain neurofibrillary degeneration (NFD), but not with motor, sensory or motivational factors. Immunocytochemical probes demonstrated that phosphorylated neurofilaments accumulate in neuronal perikarya containing NFD, and double-labelling techniques suggested that NFD affects primarily the projection-type neurons. Finally, the neurochemical profile of the aluminum-intoxicated rabbit showed both similarities and discrepancies to that of Alzheimer's disease (AD).