title: The extracellular space in the edematous human cerebral cortex: an electron microscopic study using cortical biopsies.
abstract: In a vascular anomaly showing moderate edema, the extracellular space appeared apparently normal, exhibiting a membrane to membrane space of about 20 nm in width. In congenital hydrocephalus, this space appeared notably enlarged and occupied by an electron transparent, nonproteinaceous interstitial edema fluid, due to abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. In brain trauma, the distended extracellular space contained either electron-lucid nonproteinaceous or electron-dense proteinaceous edema fluid. Hemorrhagic foci, fibrinoid material, and non-nervous invading cells, such as macrophages and monocytes, were also found. In brain tumors, the widened extracellular space showed electron-dense proteinaceous edema fluid and bundles of fibrinoid material. The enlarged extracellular space found in congenital hydrocephalus, vascular anomalies, brain trauma, and tumors is closely related to the clinical symptoms exhibited by the patients under study.
authors.affiliation: Biological Research Institute Drs Orlando Castejon and Haydee V. Castejon, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela. ocastejo@cantv.net
authors.forename: Orlando J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Castejon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000473:pathology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005110:Extracellular Space; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult