Fig. 3From: Axonal degeneration in the anterior insular cortex is associated with Alzheimer’s co-pathology in Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodiesMorphological features of axonal degeneration and associated pathologies in the anterior insula visualized using Bielschowsky silver staining. Axonal thinning and associated myelin changes (*) were visible in fibers in PD_5 (a-c). Axonal thickening was seen in PD_4 dysgranular insula (d), thinning and spheroid body in PDD_1 agranular insula (e), and DLB_5 and DLB_7 in both sub-regions (f, g). Multiple fibers were surrounded by β-amyloid plaques in PD_3 (j) and PDD_3 with bulbous swelling in nearby axons in agranular insula (h, i). Early NFTs were seen in PD_3 dysgranular insula (k) and in PDD_6 agranular insula where dystrophic neurites and peri-somatic granules were also present (l, m). In DLB_9, multiple perivascular amyloid-β plaques were visible (n). NFTs as well as severe axonal degeneration were present in DLB_1 (o), DLB_8 (r) and DLB_9 which showed ghost tangles (p, q) surrounded by AG (p,r,s; upper right corner). AGs are featured as comma-shaped deposits. Magnification 630 × ; Scale bars: 50 μm. AG: argyrophilic grains; DLB: dementia with Lewy bodies; NFTs: neurofibrillary tangles; PD: Parkinson’s disease; PDD: Parkinson’s disease dementiaBack to article page