Summary
The distribution and ultrastructure of Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles (ANT) in the brain stem, hypothalamus, and Ammon's horn were studied in four patients with postencephalitic parkinsonism of Economo type (PEPE). The distribution of ANT was as previously reported; the pattern of distribution resembled to that of amine-containing nerve cells. Ultrastructurally, ANT revealed twisted tubules (TT), but straight tubules (ST) of 150 Å width were also found in the locus ceruleus of three cases; sometimes, TT and ST were mixed in a single neuron. Whether the coexistence of TT and ST in the locus ceruleus is a characteristic ultrastructural feature of ANT in PEPE or a regional peculiarity could not be determined. Ultrastructurally, ANT in PEPE were identical to those found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease or senile dementia.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Greenfield JG, Bosanquet FD (1953) The brain-stem lesions in parkinsonism. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 16:213–226
Hirano A, Dembitzer HM, Kurland LT, Zimmerman HM (1968) The fine structure of some intraganglionic alterations. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 27:167–182
Hirano A (1971) Electron microscopy in neuropathology. In: Zimmerman HM (ed) Progress in neuropathology, vol. I. Grune & Stratton, New York London, pp 1–61
Ishii T (1966) Distribution of Alzheimer's neurofibrillary changes in the brain stem and hypothalamus of senile dementia. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 6:181–187
Ishii T (1968) Distribution of Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles in postencephalitic parkinsonism. Adv Neurol Sci Jpn 12:909–918
Kidd M (1963) Paired helical filaments in electron microscopy of Alzheimer's disease. Nature 197:192–193
Oyanagi Sh (1974) Electron-microscopic observations on the brains of patients with senile dementia: Conversion of neurofilaments to twisted tubules and interrelations between Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles and Pick's bodies. Adv Neurol Sci Jpn 18:77–88
Shibayama H, Kotoh J (1978) Electron-microscopic structure of the Alzheimer's neurofibrillary changes in case of atypical senile dementia. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 41:229–234
Tellez-Nagel I, Wisniewski HM (1973) Ultrastructure of neurofibrillary tangles in Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome. Arch Neurol 19:324–327
Terry RD (1963) The fine structure of neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 22:629–642
Tomonaga M (1977) Ultrastructure of neurofibrillary tangles in progressive supranuclear palsy. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 37:177–181
Torvik A, Meen D (1966) Distribution of the brain stem lesions in postencephalitic parkinsonism. Acta Neurol Scand 42:414–425
Wisniewski H, Terry RD, Hirano A (1970) Neurofibrillary pathology. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 29:163–176
Wisniewski HM, Narang HK, Terry RD (1976) Neurofibrillary tangles of paired helical filaments. J Neurol Sci 27:173–181
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ishii, T., Nakamura, Y. Distribution and ultrastructure of Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles in postencephalitic parkinsonism of Economo type. Acta Neuropathol 55, 59–62 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691532
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691532