Glial cytoplasmic inclusions in the CNS of patients with multiple system atrophy (striatonigral degeneration, olivopontocerebellar atrophy and Shy-Drager syndrome)

https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-510X(89)90219-0Get rights and content

Abstract

Glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) were demonstrated by silver staining, immunocytochemistry and by electron microscopy in the central nervous system (CNS) of 11 patients with various combinations of striatonigral degeneration, olivopontocerebellar atrophy and Shy-Drager syndrome. Although their configuration in light microscope can sometimes resemble neurofibrillary tangles, their cellular localisation, measurements, ultrastructure, immunocytochemical characteristics and regional distribution all differ from these Alzheimer type changes. The majority of GCIs were localized in the white matter and appeared to be accompanied by an increase in the number of interfascicular oligodendroglial cells and pallor or loss of myelin staining. Our histological, ultrastructural and immunocytochemical findings all indicate that the cells which contain GCIs are oligodendrocytes and the inclusions themselves are composed of tubular structures. The presence of the until now unknown GCIs in all the 11 CNS, but not in age- and sex-matched control brains, indicates that GCI is a cellular change characteristic of multiple system atrophy and the three syndromes are various manifestations of the same disease.

References (35)

  • BercianoJ.

    Olivopontocerebellar atrophy

    J. Neurol. Sci.

    (1982)
  • OppenheimerD.R.

    Lateral horn cells in progressive autonomic failure

    J. Neurol. Sci.

    (1980)
  • SpokesE.G.S. et al.

    Multiple system atrophy with autonomic failure

    Clinical, histological and neurochemical observations on four cases

    J. Neurol. Sci.

    (1979)
  • AdamsR.D. et al.

    Striatonigral degeneration

  • AdamsR.D. et al.

    Dégénérescences nigro-striées et cérébello-nigro-striées

    Psychiat. Neurol.

    (1961)
  • AdamsR.D. et al.

    Striatonigral degeneration

    J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol.

    (1964)
  • BannisterR. et al.

    Degenerative disease of the nervous system associated with autonomic failure

    Brain

    (1972)
  • BannisterR. et al.

    Parkinsonism, system degeneration and autonomic failure

  • BoritA. et al.

    The striatonigral degeneration; putaminal pigments and nosology

    Brain

    (1975)
  • BraakH. et al.

    On areas of transition between entorhinal allocortex and temporal isocortex in the human brain

    Normal morphology and lamina-specific pathology in Alzheimer's disease

    Acta Neuropathol.

    (1985)
  • ChokroverthyS.

    Autonomic dysfunction in olivopontocerebellar atrophy

    Adv. Neurol.

    (1984)
  • EadieM.J.

    Olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy (Dejerine-Thomas type)

  • GalloJ-M. et al.

    Ubiquitous variations in nerves

    Nature

    (1989)
  • GallyasF.

    Silver staining of Alzheimer's neurofibrillary changes by means of physical development

    Acta Morphol. Acad. Sci. Hung.

    (1971)
  • GallyasF. et al.

    Metal-catalyzed oxidation renders silver intensification selective

    Application for the histochemistry of diaminobenzidine and neurofibrillary changes

    J. Histochem. Cytochem.

    (1986)
  • GossetA. et al.

    Dégénérescence striato-nigrique associéeàune atrophie olivo-ponto-cérébelleuse. Etude anatomo-clinique de trois cas

    Discussion nosologique

    Rev. Neurol.

    (1983)
  • GrahamJ.C. et al.

    Orthostatic hypotension in a case of multiple system atrophy

    J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat.

    (1969)
  • Cited by (889)

    View all citing articles on Scopus

    Part of this study was presented in abstract form at the 3rd European Meeting of Neuropathology, Verona, Italy, September 27–29, 1988.

    View full text