PMID: 9553957Apr 29, 1998Paper

Reversal by desferrioxamine of tau protein aggregates following two days of treatment in aluminum-induced neurofibrillary degeneration in rabbit: implications for clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease

Neurotoxicology
J SavoryM M Herman

Abstract

A clinical trial in patients with Alzheimer's disease has indicated that frequent intramuscular (i.m.) treatment with desferrioxamine (DFO) slows progression of the disease. Confirmatory trials have not been carried out, partly because of the rigors of twice daily intramuscular injections over a period of 2 years, even though the initial report gave promising results. The aim of the present study was to determine an optimal DFO treatment protocol in an animal model exhibiting Alzheimer's-like intraneuronal protein aggregates, previously shown to be partially reversed by such treatment. New Zealand white rabbits were injected intracisternally with either aluminum (Al) maltolate or with saline on day 0. Intramuscular injections of DFO were given to selected rabbits for 2 days prior to sacrifice on days 4, 6 or 8. Bielschowsky's silver impregnation demonstrated widespread neurofibrillary degeneration (NFD) in neuronal cell bodies and neurites of brain and spinal cord from Al-treated rabbits. Monoclonal antibodies Tau-2, AT8, PHF-1 and Alz-50, all of which characteristically stain neurofibrillary tangles associated with Alzheimer's disease, strongly labeled the Al-induced NFD. The number of positive neurons and staining intensities...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Alzheimer's Disease: Tau & TDP-43

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease. This feed focuses on the underlying role of tau proteins and TAR DNA-binding protein 43, as well as other genetic factors, in Alzheimer's disease.

Batten Disease

Batten Disease is a group of nervous system disorders known as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. This feed focuses on neurobiological and neuropathological aspects of this disease.