Histopathological studies on senile plaques and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in aged cynomolgus monkeys

Abstract

The incidence and morphological characteristics of senile plaque and amyloid angiopathy in the cerebrum of six aged cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), 20 to 29 years old, were studied histopathologically and immunohistochemically. By periodic acid methenamine silver stain (PAM) and alkaline Congo red stain, senile plaques were detected in 5 out of 6 cases, and 3 of them were positive for amyloid in the wall of capillaries and arterioles in the cerebral cortex. Senile plaques were classified into three types. Mature plaques, including classical and primitive types, were more frequently observed than the immature diffuse type. Senile plaques were often seen in the cortex of temporal lobe, putamen and head of caudate nucleus. Since mature types of senile plaques were seen frequently around vascular amyloid deposition and no amyloid angiopathy was detected in the areas without senile plaques, the close relation between senile plaque of the mature type and amyloid angiopathy might be considered. All senile plaques and amyloid angiopathy were positively stained immunohistochemically with antibody against amyloid beta-protein (A beta P) 1-40 synthetic peptide, but all diffuse and some primitive plaques were negative for antibody against A beta P 8-17 synthetic peptide. Neither senile plaque nor amyloid angiopathy was detected in the cerebrum of 15 young monkeys, 9 to 11 years old, examined as controls.