Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 678, Issues 1–2, 24 April 1995, Pages 161-167
Brain Research

Reduction of AMPA-selective glutamate receptor subunits in the entorhinal cortex of patients with Alzheimer's disease pathology: a biochemical study

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(95)00178-SGet rights and content
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Abstract

Using biochemical techniques we determined concentrations of the AMPA-selective glutamate receptor subunits GluR1 and GluR2/3 in the entorhinal cortex of patients with Alzheimer's disease pathology and age-matched controls. Tangle density was also determined in anatomically matched samples and correlated with GluR1 and GluR2/3 receptor concentration. In Alzheimer's disease brain, Western blot analysis revealed reductions of 43% and 38% for GluR1 and GluR2/3, respectively. Based on previous immunohistochemical studies, we infer that the majority of protein reduction was due to decreases in GluR1 and GluR2/3 immunolabeled elements in the more superficial layers of the entorhinal cortex (layers II and III). These layers of the entorhinal cortex contained numerous neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease, but neither GluR1 nor GluR2/3 protein concentration correlated significantly with tangle density. We hypothesize that the decrease in specific glutamate receptor subunits, particularly GluR2/3, may contribute to the vulnerability of neurons in the entorhinal cortex via mechanisms involving calcium conductance through AMPA-selective channels.

Keywords

AMPA receptor
Alzheimer's disease
GluR1
GluR2/3

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