Mesulam M M, Geula C
Center for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611.
Ann Neurol. 1994 Nov;36(5):722-7. doi: 10.1002/ana.410360506.
In a sample of consecutively received, 4 demented and 4 age-matched nondemented brains, the total cortical area covered by plaque-like A beta amyloid and butyrylcholinesterase deposits was measured at two regions of the temporal cortex with the help of computed densitometry. Demented as well as age-matched nondemented brains contained A beta and butyrylcholinesterase-positive plaques. The total cortical area covered by the A beta precipitates was higher in demented individuals but there was overlap with the values seen in the specimens from nondemented individuals. The proportional plaque area displaying butyrylcholinesterase reactivity was very significantly and five fold to sixfold higher in the demented than in the nondemented group and there was no overlap between the two populations. Diffuse A beta deposits in nondemented elderly brains may represent a benign or preclinical stage of plaque deposition with relatively little pathological effect on brain tissue and mental function. Our results suggest that the progressively more extensive butyrylcholinesterase reactivity of plaques may participate in their transformation from a relatively benign form to pathogenic structures associated with neuritic degeneration and dementia.
在一组连续接收的样本中，有4个痴呆患者的大脑和4个年龄匹配的非痴呆患者的大脑，借助计算机密度测定法，在颞叶皮质的两个区域测量了由斑块样β淀粉样蛋白和丁酰胆碱酯酶沉积物覆盖的总皮质面积。痴呆患者以及年龄匹配的非痴呆患者的大脑中均含有β淀粉样蛋白和丁酰胆碱酯酶阳性斑块。痴呆患者中由β淀粉样蛋白沉淀物覆盖的总皮质面积更高，但与非痴呆患者标本中的值存在重叠。显示丁酰胆碱酯酶反应性的斑块比例面积在痴呆组中比非痴呆组非常显著地高5到6倍，且两组之间没有重叠。非痴呆老年大脑中的弥漫性β淀粉样蛋白沉积物可能代表斑块沉积的良性或临床前期阶段，对脑组织和心理功能的病理影响相对较小。我们的结果表明，斑块中逐渐更广泛的丁酰胆碱酯酶反应性可能参与了它们从相对良性形式向与神经炎性变性和痴呆相关的致病结构的转变。
