Feline dysautonomia (the Key-Gaskell syndrome): an ultra structural study of autonomic ganglia and nerves.
Recently a feline dysautonomia of unknown aetiology, the Key-Gaskell syndrome, has caused widespread morbidity in the UK. This report describes the ultrastructural appearances of the autonomic ganglia and axons of the sympathetic chain in this condition. Nuclei of affected neurones were eccentric and abnormally crenated. Nucleolar abnormalities such as increased electron density (due to loss of the intranucleolar vacuoles), nucleolar segregation and ring nucleoli were observed in a proportion of neurones. There was marked loss of ribosomes, both bound and unbound, and cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum were distended with a floccular electron dense material. Numerous smooth-walled cisternae were also present and complex stacks of smooth semi-parallel membranes were observed, probably derived from the smooth endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi apparatus. No normal Golgi formations were seen. Frequent autophagic vacuoles and membranous dense bodies were present in some cells. Many unmyelinated fibres in the sympathetic chain were swollen and contained vesiculo-tubular profiles, disordered neurotubules and filaments and various degenerating membranous organelles. Myelinated fibres within the sympathetic chain were also degenerating. These studies indicate that the organelles involved with protein biosynthesis are severely affected by the disease.
D000818:Animals; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002415:Cats; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000648:ultrastructure*