title: Paired twisted filaments: a new ultrastructural marker of human pinealomas?
abstract: Paired twisted filaments (PTF) forming helices are described in tumor cells of three human pinealomas. Each filament was 8.11 +/- 1.55 nm wide. The maximal width of the helix was 16.62 +/- 2.62 nm. The periodicity of the constrictions was 26.63 +/- 4.49 nm. These characteristics appeared original, suggesting protein filaments possibly specific of pinealocytes. The similarities and discrepancies between PTF and Alzheimer's paired helical filaments (PHF) are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010871:Pinealoma / Q000648:ultrastructure*