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Dendrite and dendritic spine alterations in Alzheimer models
Moolman DL, Vitolo OV, Vonsattel JP, Shelanski ML.. Journal of neurocytology, 2004-05-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Synaptic damage and loss are factors that affect the degree of dementia experienced in Alzheimer disease (AD) patients. Multicolor DiOlistic labeling of the hippocampus has been undertaken which allows the full dendritic arbor of targeted neurons to be imaged. Using this labeling technique the neuronal morphology of two transgenic mouse lines (J20 and APP/PS1) expressing mutant forms of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP), at various ages, have been visualized and compared to Wild Type (WT) littermate controls.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Moolman, D. L., Vitolo, O. V., Vonsattel, J. P., & Shelanski, M. L. (2004). Dendrite and dendritic spine alterations in Alzheimer models. Journal of neurocytology. https://doi.org/10.1023/b:neur.0000044197.83514.64
Vancouver
Moolman DL, Vitolo OV, Vonsattel JP, Shelanski ML. Dendrite and dendritic spine alterations in Alzheimer models. Journal of neurocytology. 2004. doi:10.1023/b:neur.0000044197.83514.64. PMID: 15475691.
BibTeX
@article{moolman2004-15475691,
author = {Moolman, D. L. and Vitolo, O. V. and Vonsattel, J. P. and Shelanski, M. L.},
title = {{Dendrite and dendritic spine alterations in Alzheimer models}},
journal = {Journal of neurocytology},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1023/b:neur.0000044197.83514.64},
pmid = {15475691},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1023/b:neur.0000044197.83514.64}
}
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Key findings
- Multicolor DiOlistic labeling of the hippocampus has been undertaken which allows the full dendritic arbor of targeted neurons to be imaged.
- Using this labeling technique the neuronal morphology of two transgenic mouse lines (J20 and APP/PS1) expressing mutant forms of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP), at various ages, have been visualized and compared to Wild Type (WT) littermate controls.
- Swollen bulbous dystrophic neurites with loss of spines were apparent in the transgenic animals.
- Upon quantification, statistically significant reductions in the number of spines and total dendrite area was observed in both transgenic mouse lines at 11 months of age.
Why it matters
In two transgenic mouse lines expressing mutant amyloid precursor protein, imaging of hippocampal neurons showed swollen dystrophic neurites and loss of dendritic spines compared with normal mice. This is an animal study describing structural changes and does not test a treatment for people.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neurocytology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Journal of Neurocytology: journal h-index 143 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2004 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 245 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 10.2 citations a year over 24 year(s) since 2004 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 14 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Michael L. Shelanski: h-index 70 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Columbia University: institution h-index 1,824 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 15475691) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
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