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Neuropathological and ultrastructural findings in two cases of subacute spongiform encephalopathy

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Summary

This report deals with the clinical and neuropathological findings in two cases of subacute spongiform encephalopathy. Cerebral biopsies were performed in both cases and electron microscopy studies carried out.

The cavities were lined by a membrane and were assumed therefore to have originated in the cytoplasm of nervous tissue elements. The presence of transitional stages between dilated astrocytic processes and large cavities makes it probable that the cavities originated from enlarged astroglial cytoplasm.

No abnormalities were found in small blood vessels.

Zusammenfassung

Die klinischen und neuropathologischen Befunde von 2 Fällen von „Encephalopathia spongiformis subacuta” werden berichtet. Beide Fälle wurden durch Hirnbiopsie verifiziert und elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht.

Die Hohlräume, welche das pathologische Bild der Hirnrinde kennzeichnen, sind von einer Membran begrenzt und werden daher vom Cytoplasma nervöser Gewebselemente abgeleitet. Der Nachweis von Übergangsformen zwischen Astrocytenfortsätzen und den Hohlräumen macht ihre Entstehung aus dem Cytoplasma vergrößerter Astrocyten wahrscheinlich. Die kleinen Blutgefäße zeigen keine pathologischen Veränderungen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neuropathology and Anatomy, School of Medicine, Catholic University, Santiago, Chile

    Oscar Marin & Juan D. Vial

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  1. Oscar Marin
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  2. Juan D. Vial
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Marin, O., Vial, J.D. Neuropathological and ultrastructural findings in two cases of subacute spongiform encephalopathy. Acta Neuropathol 4, 218–229 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00684130

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00684130

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