Changes in Adrenergic and Cholinergic Receptors on Human Cerebral Vessels

Background/Objectives: Sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) occurs due to a failure of clearance of amyloid-beta (Aβ) along the walls of capillaries and arteries. Soluble Aβ is eliminated from the brain along the basement membranes of capillaries and arteries as Intramural Periarterial Drainage (IPAD). The motive force for IPAD is provided by the spontaneous contractions of vascular smooth muscle cells, as vasomotion. Cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells receive adrenergic and cholinergic innervation from the Locus Coeruleus and the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert, which are compromised very early in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we tested the hypothesis that adrenergic and cholinergic receptors are histologically preserved in parenchymal and leptomeningeal blood vessels with CAA.