Dendritic and spinal pathology in the acoustic cortex in Alzheimer's disease: morphological estimation in Golgi technique and electron microscopy.

CONCLUSIONS: The morphological and morphometric estimation of the dendrites and the dendritic spines in the acoustic cortex in Alzheimer's disease revealed substantial alterations of the dendritic arborization and marked loss of the dendritic spines, which may be related to communication impairment even in early cases of Alzheimer's disease. OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease is characterized by progressive loss of memory, impairment of judgment, and decline in communication and speech eloquence. In the present study we attempted to describe the morphological and morphometric alterations of the dendrites and the dendritic spines in the acoustic cortex in early cases of Alzheimer's disease, in order to approach the communication impairment of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease from a neuropathological point of view. METHODS: We studied the acoustic cortex in 22 cases of Alzheimer's disease by Golgi technique and electron microscopy. RESULTS: The morphological and morphometric estimation of the acoustic cortex revealed loss of Cajal-Retzius cells in layer I, as well as an impressive abbreviation of the dendritic fields associated with loss of dendritic spines in all the layers of the cortex. Numerous distorted, dystrophic, and degenerated dendritic spines were also seen, which were intermixed with a considerable number of giant spines. The dendritic and spinal alterations were closely associated with mitochondrial alterations.

The acoustic cortex in frontotemporal dementia: a Golgi and electron microscope study.

CONCLUSION: The neuronal loss and the alteration of the synapses in the acoustic cortex in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) may be related to the impairment of communication and symbolic sound perception, which is noticed in the majority of the cases. OBJECTIVES: FTD is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder, causing progressive decline of intellectual faculties, impairment of behavior and social performance, and impairment of speech eloquence, associated with various neurological manifestations based on a variable neuropathological background. We attempted to determine the morphological alterations of the dendrites and the dendritic spines in the acoustic cortex of 10 cases who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for FTD. METHODS: For the histological study we applied (a) routine neuropathological techniques and (b) rapid Golgi method. We proceeded to electron microscopy for the ultrastructural study of the synapses and the morphological and morphometric study of the organelles, the dendrites, and the dendritic spines. RESULTS: The morphological and morphometric analysis revealed substantial neuronal loss and synaptic alterations in the acoustic cortex in all the cases of FTD and particularly in Pick disease and in primary progressive aphasia. Mitochondria alterations and changes of the Golgi apparatus were seen mostly in Pick disease.

Synaptic alterations in the medial geniculate bodies and the inferior colliculi in Alzheimer's disease: a Golgi and electron microscope study.

CONCLUSION: The neuronal loss and the alteration of the synapses in the medial geniculate bodies and the inferior colliculi may be involved in the impairment of communication and symbolic sound perception, which is noticed even in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, causing a progressive decline of intellectual faculties, gradual impairment of behavior and social performance, impairment of communication and speech eloquence, and various neurological manifestations. We attempted to figure out the synaptic alterations in the medial geniculate bodies and the inferior colliculi in 12 early cases of Alzheimer's disease, who fulfilled the clinical, and laboratory diagnostic criteria of Alzheimer's disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: For the histological study we applied routine neuropathological techniques as well as Bodian staining and rapid Golgi method. We proceeded to electron microscopy for the ultrastructural study of synapses and dendritic spines. RESULTS: The morphological and morphometric analysis revealed substantial neuronal loss and synaptic alterations in the medial geniculate bodies as well as in inferior colliculi. Dendritic spines of the polyhedral and elongated cells of the medial geniculate bodies were decreased in number. Mitochondrial alterations and fragmentation of Golgi apparatus were seen in 15% of the neurons of the medial geniculate bodies and in 5% of the neurons of the inferior colliculi. Senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles were not seen in either the medial geniculate bodies or the inferior colliculi.

Dendritic and spinal pathology in the acoustic cortex in Alzheimer's disease: morphological and morphometric estimation by Golgi technique and electron microscopy.

CONCLUSIONS: The morphological and morphometric estimation of the dendrites and the dendritic spines in the acoustic cortex in Alzheimer's disease revealed substantial alterations of the dendritic arborization and marked loss of the dendritic spines. This may be related to communication impairment even in early cases of Alzheimer's disease. OBJECTIVES: Alzheimer's disease is characterized by progressive loss of memory, impairment of judgment, and decline in communication and speech eloquence. In the present study we attempted to describe the morphological and morphometric alterations of the dendrites and the dendritic spines in the acoustic cortex in early cases of Alzheimer's disease, in order to approach the communication impairment of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease, from the neuropathological point of view. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the acoustic cortex in 22 cases of Alzheimer's disease by Golgi technique and electron microscopy. RESULTS: The morphological and morphometric estimation of the acoustic cortex revealed loss of Cajal-Retzius cells in layer I, as well as an impressive abbreviation of the dendritic fields associated with loss of dendritic spines in all layers of the cortex. Numerous distorted, dystrophic and degenerated dendritic spines were also seen, which were intermixed with a considerable number of giant spines. The dendritic and spinal alterations were closely associated with mitochondrial alterations.