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| IJCEP Copyright © 2007-All rights reserved. |
| International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology |
Int J Clin Exp Pathol 1(4):369-375;2008
Original Article
Limbic Lobe Microvacuolation is Minimal in Alzheimer’s Disease in the Absence of
Concurrent Lewy Body Disease
Yasuhiro Fujino and Dennis W. Dickson
Neuropathology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, USA
Received 6 Sept 2007; accepted and available online 1 January 2008
Abstract: Microvacuolation is relatively common in the limbic lobe in Lewy body disease (LBD). Similar pathology has also been reported
in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Almost all of the studies of microvacuolation in AD, however, antedated the routine application of sensitive
immunohistochemical methods to detect Lewy bodies. This raises the possibility that microvacuolation previously reported in AD may
have been due to unrecognized LB pathology. To explore this issue, α-synuclein immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate a
consecutive series of AD as well as cases with mixed AD and LBD (AD/LBD). Independently, the degree of microvacuolation was graded
in the entorhinal cortex and the amygdala of the same cases. The results showed that microvacuolation was more common and more
severe in AD/LBD than in pure AD cases. In pure AD cases microvacuolation was related to senile plaque density, especially in the
amygdala, where many of the neuropil vacuoles were around dense-cored, neuritic plaques. In contrast, in AD/LBD microvacuolation
correlated with LB density in the entorhinal cortex and amygdala. These results suggest that microvacuolation has a different
pathogenesis in AD and in AD/LBD. Moreover, when prominent microvacuolation is detected in AD, it is imperative to exclude concurrent
LBD. (IJCEP709002).
Key Words: Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease, microvacuolation, spongiosis
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondences to: Dennis W. Dickson, MD, Neuropathology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville,
FL 32224, USA, Tel: (904) 953 7137, Fax: (904) 953 7117, Email: dickson.dennis@mayo.edu
Original Article
Limbic Lobe Microvacuolation is Minimal in Alzheimer’s Disease in the Absence of
Concurrent Lewy Body Disease
Yasuhiro Fujino and Dennis W. Dickson
Neuropathology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, USA
Received 6 Sept 2007; accepted and available online 1 January 2008
Abstract: Microvacuolation is relatively common in the limbic lobe in Lewy body disease (LBD). Similar pathology has also been reported
in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Almost all of the studies of microvacuolation in AD, however, antedated the routine application of sensitive
immunohistochemical methods to detect Lewy bodies. This raises the possibility that microvacuolation previously reported in AD may
have been due to unrecognized LB pathology. To explore this issue, α-synuclein immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate a
consecutive series of AD as well as cases with mixed AD and LBD (AD/LBD). Independently, the degree of microvacuolation was graded
in the entorhinal cortex and the amygdala of the same cases. The results showed that microvacuolation was more common and more
severe in AD/LBD than in pure AD cases. In pure AD cases microvacuolation was related to senile plaque density, especially in the
amygdala, where many of the neuropil vacuoles were around dense-cored, neuritic plaques. In contrast, in AD/LBD microvacuolation
correlated with LB density in the entorhinal cortex and amygdala. These results suggest that microvacuolation has a different
pathogenesis in AD and in AD/LBD. Moreover, when prominent microvacuolation is detected in AD, it is imperative to exclude concurrent
LBD. (IJCEP709002).
Key Words: Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease, microvacuolation, spongiosis
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondences to: Dennis W. Dickson, MD, Neuropathology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville,
FL 32224, USA, Tel: (904) 953 7137, Fax: (904) 953 7117, Email: dickson.dennis@mayo.edu