title: [Biopathology of transmissible subacute spongiform encephalopathies].
abstract: Three lesions can be seen in the central nervous system: vacuolation ("spongiform state"), hypertrophy and proliferation of astrocytes ("astrogliosis"), and neuronal loss. These are poorly specific changes. In contrast, amyloid plaques and other deposits of PrPres are very specific lesions. The recent widening of the clinico-pathological spectrum of PrPres-induced disorders has shown that none of these lesions was constantly present. The mechanisms of PrPres occurrence and development, neuronal death, involvement of the central nervous system after peripheral inoculation are still hypothetical. B lymphocytes, monocyte-macrophages, peripheral nerves, central synapses are important. New data will be provided by experimental models (transgenic mice, transplantations), and by a full study of all patients affected by prion diseases, which necessarily involves autopsy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de neuropathologie Raymond Escourolle Groupe hospitalier La Pitié-La Salpêtrière, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Paris VI INSERM U 360, Association Claude-Bernard.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hauw
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Privat
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sazdovitch
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seilhean
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D001344:Autopsy; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D016923:Cell Death; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000635:transmission*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008264:Macrophages; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid; D011328:Prions / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D011328:Prions