Profound degeneration of wake-promoting neurons in Alzheimer’s disease

Fig. 2

Representative histological images of wake-promoting nuclei. LC (top), LHA (middle), and TMN (bottom) tissue sections are depicted with their corresponding neurotransmitter/enzymes (TH, orexin, or HDC, respectively; in red) and tau (CP13; in brown). Notice smaller neuronal population in AD in all three wake-promoting nuclei. Some LC neurons contain neuromelanin and appear pigmented. The black bar represents 200 μm. From left to right column: (A) control, (B) CBD, (C) PSP, (D) AD (20× magnification). Abbreviations: LC, Locus coeruleus; LHA, lateral hypothalamic area; TMN, tuberomammillary nucleus; TH, tyrosine hydroxylase; HDC, histidine decarboxylase; AD, Alzheimer’s disease; CBD, corticobasal degeneration; PSP, progressive supranuclear palsy.

Read more…