[The cerebral peduncle lesion in multiple system atrophy].
Atrophy of the cerebral peduncle and the pons can be seen on radiologic examination in patients of multiple system atrophy. This radiologic finding is one of the landmarks for the diagnosis of multiple system atrophy, but its detailed pathological background has not been thoroughly assessed. To clarify the pathological features of the cerebral peduncle lesion, samples from 28 autopsied cases (male 16, female 12; age 50-76 yr) were semiquantitatively examined after staining by HE, KB, Holzer, GFAP, Bodian and Gallyas methods. Atrophy of the cerebral peduncle was symmetric in most cases and resulted from the loss of small-sized nerve fibers. The glial cytoplasmic inclusion (GCI) in the cerebral peduncle increased significantly in severe atrophic cases compared with mild atrophic cases. However, in the most severe atrophic cases, in which this tissue was severely damaged, the GCI was decreased. The atrophy of the cerebral peduncle correlated significantly with the degree of degeneration in the olivo-ponto-cerebellar system and tended to correlate with a decrease in brain weight. The duration of disease is significantly longer in severe atrophic cases compared with mild atrophic cases.
Yasui
K
K
Department of Neurology, Nagoya University School of Medicine.
Hashizume
Y
Y
Yoshida
M
M
Sobue
G
G
D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000473:pathology*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D011149:Pons / Q000473:pathology