ALUMINUM-INDUCED NEUROPATHOLOGY - TRANSIENT CHANGES IN MICROTUBULE-ASSOCIATED PROTEINS

In susceptible species, aluminum induces cytoskeletal changes in which neurofilaments accumulate in neuronal cell bodies and proximal axonal enlargements. To determine if microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) are altered in this model, we examined the spinal cords of aluminum- a nd saline-treated control rabbits at several time points after treatme nt. Transient decreases in tan and MAP2 immunoreactivity in neurons in aluminum-intoxicated rabbits were demonstrated with immunocytochemist ry. An antibody directed against Alzheimer's disease paired helical fi laments labeled neurons in aluminum-treated rabbits but not controls. MAP5 immunoreactivity in the cell body cytoplasm was displaced by alum inum-induced tangles. The transient decreases in MAP2 and tau immunore activity did not reflect alterations in protein levels measured using immunoblotting. The transient antigenic changes in tau and MAP2 may re flect conformational changes in these cytoskeletal proteins. Aluminum- induced pathology provides a model for studying perturbations in MAPs and neurofilament proteins that are characteristic of many human neuro degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, diffuse Lewy body d isease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Copyri ght (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Inc.