Cell loss and shrinkage in the nucleus basalis Meynert complex in Alzheimer's disease.

Marked neuron loss in the nucleus basalis of Meynert complex (NBMC) in Alzheimer's disease has repeatedly been reported in the literature. However, most of these studies quantitated only magnocellular, hyperchromatic (putative cholinergic) neurons of just a small part of the NBMC, and counts were expressed as numerical density. Applying a 3-dimensional-sampling design throughout the entire rostrocaudal extent of the NBMC and sampling neurons regardless of their size and staining characteristics, an overall neuron loss of only 15.5% was demonstrated for the whole NBMC. Neuron loss varied from 0% rostrally in the NBMC up to 36% in the most caudal part of the nucleus basalis of Meynert. Moreover, a significant increase in the number of small-sized neurons and a significant decrease in the number of large, putative cholinergic neurons could be detected, suggesting that apart from neuron loss neuron shrinkage appears to be another characteristic neuropathological feature of this degenerating cholinergic NBMC system. Preservation of these magnocellular cholinergic neurons in shrunken form renders it likely that cholinergic dysfunction, characteristic of Alzheimer's disease, may be responsive to neurotrophic influences.