Human amyloid-beta 1-42 applied in vivo inhibits the fast axonal transportof proteins in the sciatic nerve of rat

Human amyloid-beta 1-42 has been suggested to be a pathogenetic factor in A lzheimer's disease. The precise mechanism by which this peptide causes the degeneration of neurons in the affected brain is not yet fully understood. By using immunohistochemistry we explored the inhibitory effects of human a myloid-beta 1-42 applied in vivo on the fast axonal transport of acetylchol inesterase, the amyloid precursor protein, the vesicular acetylcholine tran sporter and synaptophysin in the sciatic nerve of rat. Our findings provide evidence for the in vivo neurotoxic effect of human amyloid-beta peptide. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.