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Involvement of extraocular muscle in mitochondrial encephalomyopathy

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Summary

We carried out a histological examination of the extraocular muscles (EOMs) in a case of myoclonus epilepsy associated with ragged-red fibers (MERRF) and two cases of mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, laetic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), which did not manifest external ophthalmoplegia clinically. By light microscopy, many granular and vesicular fibers were seen associated with endomysial fibrosis. Electron microscopy revealed that the fibers showed prominent accumulation of abnormal mitochondria, extensive loss of myofibrils, proliferation of free sarcoplasmic reticulum and an increased amount of lipid vacuoles. These changes were more pronounced in MELAS than in MERRF. Hirano bodies were often seen in the subsarcolemmal area of muscle fibers and also in the intramuscular myelinated nerve fibers and axon terminals. These findings suggest the presence of mitochondrial myopathy of the EOMs in cases of MELAS and MERRF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, 951, Niigata, Japan

    S. Takeda, E. Ohama & F. Ikuta

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  1. S. Takeda
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  2. E. Ohama
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  3. F. Ikuta
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Takeda, S., Ohama, E. & Ikuta, F. Involvement of extraocular muscle in mitochondrial encephalomyopathy. Acta Neuropathol 80, 118–122 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00308913

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00308913

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