The intermediolateral nucleus in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (original) (raw)

Summary

Histological and morphometrical observations of the intermediolateral nucleus (IML) at the levels of the upper and lower thoracic segments (T2 and T9) were carried out in 18 patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 15 age-matched control subjects. Of the 18 ALS patients 6 had been on a respirator before death. No Bunina bodies were found in the IML neurons in either the ALS patients or the control subjects. Only a small number of spheroids were encountered rarely in the IML in both the patients and controls. The number of neurons in the IML in the non-respirator-supported ALS patients were reduced at T2, but well preserved at T9 compared with the control subjects. In the respirator-supported ALS patients, there was a marked reduction of IML neurons at both T2 and T9. Considering the absence of direct synaptic contacts with anterior horn cells, these neurons, without the formation of Bunina bodies, appeared to be involved primarily in the disease process in sporadic ALS.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  1. Hughes JT (1982) Pathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In: Rowland LP (ed) Human motor neuron disease. Raven Press, New York, pp 61–74
    Google Scholar
  2. Itoh T, Sobue G, Ken E, Mitsuma T, Takahashi A, Trojanowski JQ (1992) Phosphorylated high molecular weight neurofilament protein in the peripheral motor, sensory and sympathetic neuronal perikarya: system-dependent normal variations and changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple system atrophy. Acta Neuropathol 83:240–245
    Google Scholar
  3. Kennedy PGE, Duchen LW (1985) A quantitative study of intermediolateral column cells in motor neuron disease and the Shy-Drager syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 48:1103–1106
    Google Scholar
  4. Low PA, Okazaki H, Dyck PJ (1977) Splanchnic preganglionic neurons in man. I. Morphometry of preganglionic cytons. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 40:55–61
    Google Scholar
  5. Nakajima R, Takahashi K, Nakamura H, Otomo E, Kameyama M (1981) A quantitative study of the intermediolateral cells of the thoracic cord in degenertive disease of the nervous system. Clin Neurol (Tokyo) 21:581–586
    Google Scholar
  6. Oppenheimer DR (1980) Lateral horn cells in progressive autonomic failure. J Neurol Sci 46:393–404
    Google Scholar
  7. Takahashi H, Oyanagi K, Ohama E, Ikuta F (1992) Clarke's column in sporadic amyotropic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol 84:465–470
    Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, I Asahimachi, 951, Niigata, Japan
    H. Takahashi & F. Ikuta
  2. Center for materials of Brain Diseases, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, I Asahimachi, 951, Niigata, Japan
    K. Oyanagi

Authors

  1. H. Takahashi
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. K. Oyanagi
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  3. F. Ikuta
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported in part by a research grant for CNS degenerative diseases from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Takahashi, H., Oyanagi, K. & Ikuta, F. The intermediolateral nucleus in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Acta Neuropathol 86, 190–192 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334889

Download citation

Key words