Grey Matter Pathology in Multiple Sclerosis

ABSTRACTThe aim of our study is to evaluate the extent and distribution of grey matter demyelinating lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS), addressing also neuronal loss and synaptic loss. Whole coronal sections of 6 MS brains and 6 control brains were selected. Immunohistochemistry was performed for m...

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Published in:Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology 2005-12, Vol.64 (12), p.1101-1107
Main Authors: Vercellino, Marco, Plano, Federica, Votta, Barbara, Mutani, Roberto, Giordana, Maria Teresa, Cavalla, Paola
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Apoptosis
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - metabolism
Brain - pathology
Brain - physiopathology
Cell Count
Female
Human viral diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Multiple Sclerosis - pathology
Multiple Sclerosis - physiopathology
Myelin Sheath - pathology
Neurology
Neurons - pathology
Periaqueductal Gray - pathology
Staining and Labeling
Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
Ubiquitin - metabolism
Viral diseases
Viral diseases of the nervous system
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Summary:ABSTRACTThe aim of our study is to evaluate the extent and distribution of grey matter demyelinating lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS), addressing also neuronal loss and synaptic loss. Whole coronal sections of 6 MS brains and 6 control brains were selected. Immunohistochemistry was performed for myelin basic protein, neurofilaments, synaptophysin, ubiquitin, and activated caspase-3. Neuronal density and optical density of synaptophysin staining were estimated in cortical lesions and compared with those observed in corresponding areas of normal (i.e. nondemyelinated) cortex in the same section. Demyelinating lesions were observed in the cerebral cortex, in the thalamus, basal ganglia, and in the hippocampus. The percentage of demyelinated cortex was remarkable in 2 cases of secondary progressive MS (48% and 25.5%, respectively). Neuronal density was significantly reduced in cortical lesions (18-23% reduction), if compared with adjacent normal cortex, in the 2 cases showing the higher extent of cortical demyelination; in the same cases, very rare apoptotic neurons expressing caspase-3 were observed in cortical lesions and not in adjacent normal cortex. No significant decrease in optical density of synaptophysin staining was observed in cortical lesions. Grey matter demyelination and neuronal loss could contribute to disability and cognitive dysfunctions in MS.
ISSN:0022-3069
1554-6578
DOI:10.1097/01.jnen.0000190067.20935.42