Showing papers by "Kenji Kosaka published in 1989"

Distribution and morphology of brain stem plaques in Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: The morphology, incidence and distribution of senile plaques in the brain stem were examined in 15 cases of Alzheimer's disease, using mainly the Methenamine-Bodian method. The plaques were found in all cases and were grouped into three types according to their morphology. They were not randomly scattered in the brain stem, but had a distribution common to all cases. There were numerous plaques in the periaqueductal gray, superior colliculus, fourth-ventricle floor and superior central nucleus. The plaques were also found less abundantly in the reticular formation, substantia nigra, pontine nucleus and inferior olivary nucleus. There was a tendency for certain plaque types to be associated with specific regions. In the familial cases, the plaques tended to occur even in the regions where they were rare in other cases. The capillaries with plaque-like degeneration were observed not infrequently in the brain stem. The distribution of plaques did not always coincide with that of neurofibrillary tangles.

Senile plaque-like structures: observation of a probably unknown type of senile plaque by periodic-acid methenamine silver (PAM) electron microscopy

Abstract: Numerous diffuse senile plaque-like structures (SPLSs) were found in the cerebral cortex from cases with dementia of the Alzheimer type by means of the methenamine-Bodian method. SPLSs varied in shape and size. They were never recognized in the original Bodian, PAS and Congo red preparations, but were positive with anti-β-protein immunostaining and periodic-acid methenamine silver (PAM) methods, which are thought to specifically stain amyloid substance. With PAM electron microscopy, we found sparse aggregations of amorphous, often ramified, structures with fine granular silver deposits in SPLS. Routine electron microscopic examination on the same portion where SPLS were confirmed by PAM electron microscopy revealed amorphous, partially fibrous structures. These structures might be amyloid or amyloid-precursor substance. In SPLSs only a few degenerated neurites and astrocytic processes with glycogen granules were seen. We consider SPLSs to be a kind of senile plaque.

[An autopsy case of panencephalopathic type of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: an early clinical sign documented by magnetic resonance imaging]

Abstract: We reported an autopsy case of panencephalopathic type of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), one of whose early clinical signs, visual loss, had been documented by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient was a 59-year-old woman, who showed disturbance of visual acuity, memory and calculation at the early stage. About 2 months later she developed apallic syndrome and revealed myoclonic jerks in her eye balls, face, neck and extremities. Electroencephalography showed periodic synchronous discharge. Three months later after her first symptoms MR showed bilateral occipital atrophy, although we could find no brain atrophy on CT scan. She died of the suffocation caused by bronchopneumonia at the age of 60 years. The total duration of her illness was about 20 months. Neuropathological examination revealed a pronounced diffuse atrophy of the cerebral cortex and white matter. In addition to severe cortical neuronal loss and astrocytosis, spongiform changes were evident. The hippocampus was relatively well preserved. In the cerebral white matter both myelin sheaths and axons disappeared almost completely. The cerebellum showed the severe degeneration of granule cells. These neuropathological findings are consistent with those of panencephalopathic type of CJD. It is important to clarify the abnormalities of MR findings in relation to such early clinical signs of CJD. To the best of our knowledge such reports as ours have not been published previously.