INCREASED DENSITY OF CORTICAL APOLIPOPROTEIN-E IMMUNOREACTIVE NEURONSIN RABBIT BRAIN AFTER DIETARY ADMINISTRATION OF CHOLESTEROL

Rabbits were fed 2% cholesterol diet for 4, 6 and 8 weeks or control d iet for 6 weeks, Frontal cortex and hippocampal formation were stained with apolipoprotein E (Apo-E) antibody using standard immunocytochemi cal methods. The number of neurons expressing the Apo-E epitope and th e intensity of Apo-E immunoreactivity increased with increasing time o n the cholesterol diet. Because Apo-E chaperones cholesterol in the br ain, the data may suggest that elevated circulating levels of choleste rol eventually cause increased cerebral levels.