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Brain, Vol. 116, No. 1, 103-115, 1993
© 1993 Oxford University Press

research-article

The distribution of Alz-50 immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus and adjoining areas of Alzheimer's disease patients

J. A. P. de van Nes1,2, W. Kamphorst3, R. Ravid1 and D. F. Swaab1

1Netherlands Institute for Brain Research Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2Valerius Clinic, Department of Psychiatry Amsterdam, The Netherlands 3Department of Neuropathology, Free University Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Correspondence to: Correspondence to: J. A. P. van de Nes, Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Meibergdreef 33, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The monoclonal antibody Alz-50 is directed against modified forms of tau proteins. Various hypotheses have been put forward concerning the meaning of Alz-50 staining in Alzheimer's disease brains. Cytoskeletal alterations are reported to occur exclusively in the cortex and the subcortical nuclei directly connected with the contex. In addition, Alz-50 staining is presumed to be indicative of impending neuronal death. In order to test these hypotheses Alz-50 was applied to the hypothalamus and adjoining areas of five Alzheimer's disease patients of 40–90 years of age and five sex-and age-matched, non-demented controls. The results showed the following: (i) Alz-50 immunoreactivity is not restricted to Alzheimer's disease patients. Alz-50 immunoreactive beaded nerve fibres and patchy, granular cell bodies were observed in some hypothalamic nuclei of all controls with the exception of the youngest one. Dystrophic neurites were not only observed in all Alzheimer's disease hypothalami but also in that of the oldest control. (ii) In the hypothalamic area various nuclei had different Alz-50 staining patterns. Alz-50 staining could not, however, be related to neuronal death in the different nuclei. (iii) Histo-pathological changes in Alzheimer's disease patients are not restricted to the cortex or subcortical areas connected directly with the cortex. The present report indicates that the hypothalamus is considerably more affected in Alzheimer's disease than has often been assumed. However, these changes can also be found in non-demented old people.

Received April 1, 1992. Revised July 7, 1992. Accepted August 2, 1992.


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