Glial fibrillary acidic protein and Alzheimer-type senile dementia

Duffy, P. E.
Rapport, M.
Graf, L.

Division of Neuropathology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Duffy, Division of Neuropathology, College of Physicians & Surgeons, P & S-512, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032.

Accepted for publication October 9, 1979.

Supported by Grant Nos. 5R01 AG00276-03 and CA 13696-07 and American Cancer Society, Inc. PDT-162.

Neurology 30(7):p 778-782, July 1980.

Article abstract

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a protein that is associated with 9-nm filaments of astrocytes, was observed to be increased in the astrocytes surrounding senile plaques in patients with Alzheimer dementia and in aged subjects without dementia. A few GFAP-positive fibers were seen in the centers of plaques. These results emphasized the selectivity of senile changes; whereas some cells seemed to undergo degeneration or dysfunction, other cells—astrocytes—maintain their capacity for reaction and may increase the formation of at least one protein, GFAP.