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. 2012 Jan;180(1):337–350. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.09.034

Figure 1.

Figure 1

BACE1 (left panels) and BACE2 (right panels) show distinct patterns of cellular immunoreactivity in the human brain. A and C: BACE1 and BACE2 immunoreactivity was more prevalent in AD brain. Strongly BACE1-positive cells (brown) of distinct neuronal morphology are found throughout the neocortex and are not clearly associated with Aβ deposits (blue); this was true for AD and control cases. B and D: BACE2 immunoreactivity (brown) was also found in neurons, but rare BACE2-positive processes were observed intertwined with plaques (blue). E and G: Many BACE2-positive cells with a distinctive astrocytic morphology are clustered in the outer cortical layer, in areas largely devoid of BACE1-positive cells. F and H: Although some BACE1 is found in cellular processes, most BACE1 immunoreactivity is localized in a punctate perinuclear pattern; in contrast, BACE2 has a broader distribution that may fill the entire cell (counterstain: cresyl violet). Antibodies: BACE1, mouse monoclonal MAB931; BACE2, rabbit polyclonal Ab2; and Aβ, mouse monoclonal 4G8. Substrates: 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (brown) or Vector SG (blue).