PATHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE PRODUCED BY LESION IN NUCLEUS BASALIS OF MEYNERT IN RATS

Objective To find out if the lesion in nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM ) can induce some morphological changes characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Methods Kainic acid was injected into nbM of the rats, and th e behavioral deficiency and the morphological changes in the cortex an d hippocampus were observed by methenamine silver staining and electro n microscopical examination. Results After 9-15 months of breeding fol lowing nbM-lesion, we observed many pathological changes in this anima l model, which were characteristic of Alzheimer's disease in human, an d especially we could find for the first time the formation of senile plagues after 15-month breeding. Conclusion It is proposed that the de generation of nbM neurons might be primary and responsible for the pat hological changes in other brain tissues in sporadic Alzheimer's disea se.