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. 1988 Feb;85(4):1227–1231. doi: 10.1073/pnas.85.4.1227

In situ hybridization of nucleus basalis neurons shows increased beta-amyloid mRNA in Alzheimer disease.

M L Cohen 1, T E Golde 1, M F Usiak 1, L H Younkin 1, S G Younkin 1
PMCID: PMC279740  PMID: 3277188

Abstract

To determine which cells within the brain produce beta-amyloid mRNA and to assess expression of the beta-amyloid gene in Alzheimer disease, we analyzed brain tissue from Alzheimer and control patients by in situ hybridization. Our results demonstrate that beta-amyloid mRNA is produced by neurons in the nucleus basalis of Meynert and cerebral cortex and that nucleus basalis perikarya from Alzheimer patients consistently hybridize more beta-amyloid probe than those from controls. These observations support the hypothesis that increased expression of the beta-amyloid gene plays an important role in the deposition of amyloid in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease.

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Selected References

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