Is β-APP a marker of axonal damage in short-surviving head injury?

Abstract
β-Amyloid precursor protein (β-APP), a normal constituent of neurons which is conveyed by fast axonal transport, has been found to be a useful marker for axonal damage in cases of fatal head injury. Immunocytochemistry for β-APP is a more sensitive technique for identifying axonal injury than conventional silver impregnation. This study was designed to determine how quickly evidenc of axonal damage and bulb formation appears. Using this method a variety of brain areas were studied from 55 patients who died within 24 h of a head injury. Immunocytochemical evidence of axonal injury was first detected after 2 h survival, axonal bulbs were first identified after 3 h survival, and the amount of axonal damage and axonal bulb formation increased the longer the survival time.

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