Fig. 6

The mammillary bodies demonstrated AT8-ir astrocytes most prominently in NIA/AA stage B2 and AT8-ir neurons in NIA/AA stage B3. a. Images (original magnification 200x) from sections of the mammillary bodies from representative cases with NIA/AA stages B0-1, B2 or B3 neuropathology are shown. Cases with B0-1 neurofibrillary degeneration demonstrated no significant neuronal AT8 staining in the nucleus basalis (upper panel). Cases with B2 neurofibrillary degeneration (middle panel) demonstrated predominantly AT8-ir astrocytes whereas cases with B3 neurofibrillary degeneration (lower panel) demonstrated predominantly AT8-ir neurons. b. Cases with B2 neurofibrillary degeneration demonstrated increased AT8-ir astrocytes (upper graph; p < 0.004, ANOVA; Bonferroni post-hoc test comparisons as indicated) but no significant increase in AT8-ir neurons. Cases with B3 neurofibrillary degeneration demonstrated increased AT8-ir neurons compared to B0-1 and B2 (lower graph; p < 0.001, ANOVA; Bonferroni post-hoc test comparisons as indicated). c. Correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between Braak stages of neurofibrillary degeneration and AT8-ir neurons (n = 37, R = 0.628, p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between Braak stage and AT8-ir astrocytes (n = 37, R = 0.188, p = 1) in the mammillary bodies