Amyloid β protein-induced neuronal cell death: neurotoxic properties of aggregated amyloid β protein

Abstract

The neurotoxic effects of soluble and aggregated synthetic amyloid β protein (AβP) have been investigated in rat primary cultures. Freshly solubilized β(1–40) was neurotoxic not to immature, but to mature hippocampal neurons. On the other hand, aggregated β(1–40) was neurotoxic to both. Neurotoxicity induced by aggregated β(1–40) was 10-fold more potent than soluble β(1–40) and was not prevented by substance P. The neurotoxicity of aggregated β(1–40) to cultured neurons depended on the peptide concentration and the duration of exposure to it. Cerebral cortical and hippocampal neurons were significantly susceptible to aggregated β(1–40) than cerebellar granular cells, and cultured astrocytes were not vulnerable to aggregated β(1–40) even at high concentrations.