NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES HAVE NO OBLIGATORY PREDILECTION FOR ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE-RICH NEURONS

Parts of the brain that are prone to NFT formation normally contain ma ny neurons that are intensely acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive. In this study, we used thioflavin-S immunofluorescence, AChE histochemis try, and AChE immunocytochemistry to investigate the possibility that intense AChE positivity may act as a perikaryal marker for the vulnera bility to NFT formation. Our observations in entorhinal and motor cort ices and in the subthalamic nucleus demonstrate major mismatches betwe en the distribution of AChE-rich neurons in normal brains and the dist ribution of NFT in AD. There is therefore no obligatory relationship b etween intense AChE positivity in the premorbid period and subsequent vulnerability to tangle formation.