摘要目的 观察过磷酸化tau蛋白在阿尔茨海默病(AD)患者脊髓中的表达及其在AD发病中的可能机制.方法 常规取神经病理证实的3例AD患者脊髓和7例老龄非痴呆性且无重要神经系统疾病对照患者脊髓,胸2、胸8、胸10、腰4和骶2平面取材.常规制片,行Gallyas-Braak染色及过磷酸化tau蛋白(AT8)免疫组织化学染色(SP法),光镜观察过磷酸化tau蛋白在AD及各对照组脊髓的分布情况.结果 3例AD患者中2例在脊髓前角出现过磷酸化tau蛋白阳性神经元,3例出现过磷酸化tau蛋白阳性轴索或轴索样结构,3例出现胶质细胞内过磷酸化tau蛋白表达,过磷酸化tau蛋白阳性程度与脑内神经原纤维缠结程度相关;对照组中仅1例脊髓胸2平面可见过磷酸化tau蛋白阳性的点状结构.结论 过磷酸化tau蛋白可以在AD患者脊髓内表达,提示轴浆运输障碍可能在AD的发病机制中具有一定作用.

abstractsObjective To study the expression of tau-related protein in spinal cord of Chinese patients with Alzheimer's disease. Methods Gallays-Braak stain and immunohistochemical study for tau protein (AT8) were carried out in the spinal cord tissue (T2, T8, T10, L2 and S2 segments) of 3 Chinese patients with Alzheimer's disease. Seven age-matched cases without evidence of dementia or neurologic disease were used as controls. Results Neurofibrillary tangles were identified in the neurons of anterior horn in 2 Alzheimer's disease cases but none was observed in the controls. Tau-positive axons and astroglia were detected in all Alzheimer's disease cases. Tau immunoreactivity in spinal cord of the patients correlated with that in brain tissue. Conclusion The expression of tau-related protein is demonstrated in the spinal cord of Alzheimer's disease patients suggesting that axonal transport defect may play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.