Naslov
Volume and dimensions of the human hippocampal formation in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease

Autori
Šimić, Goran ; Bogdanović, Nenad ; Kostović, Ivica ; Winblad, Bengt

Izvornik
European journal of neuroscience (0953-816X) 8 (1995); 174-174

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, kongresno priopcenje, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
hippocampus ; Alzheimer's disease ; aging ; volume ; MRI ; stereology ; Cavalieri principle

Sažetak
Hippocampal atrophy was found as a common feature of advanced Alzheimer's disease (AD) and a good radiographic marker of the disease presence. In order to access aging and AD volumetric changes, 13 normal (ranging from 16 to 99 years) and 11 AD (ranging from 80 to 92 years) postmortem human hippocampi were analyzed. An optimized design for sampling, sectioning and measuring volume of the hippocampal fields using the Cavalieri principle on 50 microns thick cresyl-violet sections was implemented. The measurements were performed on an Olympus Video Stereological Analysis System. The results included shrinkage difference due to tissue processing. Statistically significant age- related reductions in volume of the neuron containing layers were found in hilus and subiculum, but not in CA1, CA2&3 fields and granule cell layer. The mean total volume of the neuron containing layers of the hippocampus in AD was significantly smaller than in 8 age-matched controls. The most pronounced AD-related volume reductions were found in the subiculum, CA1 field and hilus. The mean values of standard axial length, longitudinal diameter and height through the band of Giacomini were, to a various extent, smaller in AD hippocampi than in normal controls. In addition, an unusual normal hippocampus with 7 internal convolutions was found. The difference in the pattern of volume reduction associated with normal aging and that associated with AD, supports the hypothesis that AD is not accelerated aging, but is a distinct pathological process. The data on volumes of the different hippocampal fields and dimensions of the rostral, most variable part of the hippocampus, presented in this study can also serve as highly informative parameters in ontological, phylogenetical, toxicological and radiographic (MRI) studies.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA