Summary
Electron microscopic examination of mouse scrapie brain has shown small vesicles in nerve cells to be formed by dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum sacs. Vacuoles seen in paraffin sections are due to great dilatation of nerve fibres, or swelling and possible confluence of astrocyte processes. Myelin degenerative changes were widespread. Dense bodies and pleomorphic inclusions were common in nerve cells. It is suggested that astroglial hypertrophy may interfere with nerve cell nutrition so that nervous disturbance results from neuroglial dysfunction.
Zusammenfassung
Die elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchung von Gehirnen Scrapie-kranker Mäuse zeigte, daß durch die Erweiterung der Räume des endoplasmatischen Reticulums in den Nervenzellen kleine Bläschen entstehen. Die in den Paraffinschnitten zu sehenden Vacuolen entsprechen einer starken Verdickung von Nervenfasern oder einer Schwellung und möglichen Konfluenz von Astrocytenfortsätzen. Verbreitet bestehen degenerative Markscheidenveränderungen. Dichte Gebilde (dense bodies) oder pleomorphe Einschlüsse sind häufig in Nervenzellen anzutreffen. Es wird vermutet, daß die Astrogliahypertrophie mit der Ernährung der Nervenzellen interferiert, so daß infolge der Dysfunktion der Neuroglia eine neuronale Störung entsteht.
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Field, E.J., Raine, C.S. An electron microscopic study of scrapie in the mouse. Acta Neuropathol 4, 200–211 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00684128
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00684128