RESEARCH ON NUCLEOLAR ORGANIZER REGIONS OF HIPPOCAMPAL NEURON IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Objective To understand the cellular genetic expression of the cell's population by studying the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) of hippo campal neuron of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods The postmortem huma n hippocampal tissues were divided into three groups, namely, the youn g, the elderly and the AD groups. Each group contained tissues from 10 patients. The study was conducted using image pattern analysis of the nucleoli-nucleoplasms ratio of the neurons of Nissl's stained patholo gical cerebral hippocampal tissues, the area of stain, and the integra ting absorption of nucleoli of silver-stained NORs. Results The nucleo li-nucleoplasms ratio of the neurons of Nissl's stained cerebral hippo campal tissues, the area of stain, and the integrating absorption of t he nucleoli of hippocampal neuron were decreased in the elderly and th e AD groups as compared with the young group. However, the area of sta in and the integrating absorption of the nucleoli of the hippocampal n eurons were relatively increased in the AD group in comparison with th e elderly group. Conclusion Nissl's stain demonstrates the hypofunctio n of the hippocampal neurons in the elderly and the AD patients. The S ilver stain of NORs shows the decline of rDNA transcription activity o f the nucleoli of the hippocampal neurons in the elderly and the AD pa tients. However, the transcription activity of the nucleoli of the hip pocampal neurons of AD patients was relatively improved, and the cellu lar genetic expression of the cell's population was relatively strengt hened. These cellular morphological changes have probably reflected th e cellular defensive system.