ACCUMULATION OF AMYLOID BETA-PROTEIN PRECURSOR (APP) IN PURKINJE-CELLS AND INCREASE OF AMINO-TERMINAL FRAGMENTS OF APP IN CEREBRUM AND CEREBELLUM OF AGED RAT-BRAIN

In aged rat brain, amyloid p-protein precursor (APP) is accumulated in dendrites and cell bodies of Purkinje cells as full-length or truncat ed APP, because dendrites and cell bodies are positively stained by an tibodies against both the amino- and carboxy-termini of APP. Western b lot analysis of homogenates of brains of aged and young rats showed no apparent differences except for an increase in amino-terminal fragmen ts in cerebrum and cerebellum of aged rat. These results indicate that the expression, transport or metabolism of APP in specific regions of brains may be affected by the aging process.