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Pathologic Evaluation of the Supraoptic and Paraventricular Nuclei in Dementia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

David Diodati ,
Lee Cyn-Ang ,
Andrew Kertesz  and
Elizabeth Finger
David Diodati
Affiliation:
Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer Research Centre, St. Joseph's Hospital
Lee Cyn-Ang
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Schulich School of Medicine
Andrew Kertesz
Affiliation:
Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer Research Centre, St. Joseph's Hospital Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine
Elizabeth Finger*
Affiliation:
Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer Research Centre, St. Joseph's Hospital Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
*
Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, B10-004, 339 Windermere Rd, London, Ontario, N6A 5A5, Canada.
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Abstract

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Background:

The neuropeptide oxytocin, produced in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of the hypothalamus, is now understood to function as a neurotransmitter critical for various aspects of social cognition and pro-social behaviour. While patients with Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) display prominent and progressive deficits in such social behaviours, the integrity of these nuclei in FTD is not known.

Methods:

We conducted a quantitative neuropathologic examination of the SON and PVN from patients with FTLD with TDP-43 proteinopathy, Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease and controls to determine whether significant pathologic changes or neuronal loss may contribute to the striking behavioural symptoms of FTD.

Results:

Contrary to predictions, we found both nuclei to be free of significant pathologic change (TDP-43) in FTLD. In contrast, tau related pathology was found in the PVN in Alzheimer's disease, and alpha-synuclein pathology in the SON in patients with Lewy body dementia.

Conclusions:

These results indicate that the SON and PVN are resistant to FTLD TDP-43 pathology. They also support prior suggestions that the SON is resistant to Alzheimer's disease (AD) related pathology, and extend this to demonstrate SON susceptibility to alpha-synuclein pathology in patients with Lewy body dementia.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 39 , Issue 2 , March 2012 , pp. 213 - 219
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2012

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