The observe of α-tubulin in skin of Alzheimer’s disease patients with immunocytochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy

ObjectiveTo observe changes of α-tubulin in skin from Alzheimer’s disease patients. MethodsThe skins of back from 7 Alzheimer's disease patients were investigated by immunocytochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy, and the results were quantitatively analyzed. Results The results in immunocytochemistry showed that the immunopositve staining were located in plasma of basal cells in control group.Only a few immunopositive cells were found in prickle cell layer and granular layer.The staining of immunopositive cells was more intensive in the skin of Alzheimer's disease patients than that of control group. Although there were some immunopositive cells in prickle cell layer and granular layer, the number of them was less. The results of immunoelectron microscope displayed that the plasma of basal cells had more microtubules, and the number of colloidal golds was dispersed in plasma. Compared with the control group, the number of microtubules was decreased, while the number of colloidal golds was increased significantly. Quantitative results showed that AOD and VIOD in skin of Alzheimer's disease patients(1.165±0.079, 186.000±15.853) were higher than these in control group(P0.01). There were more colloidal golds in Alzheimer's disease patients(20.74±3.99) than in the control group(P0.01). ConclusionsThe construction of microtubules in skin of Alzheimer's disease patients was destructed and their quantity was decreased, these changes may reflect indirectly that of nervous tissues.