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Ultrastructure of the neuroglial fatty metamorphosis (virchow) in the perinatal period

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Summary

The ultrastructure of neuroglial fatty metamorphosis (GFM) has been investigated in the telencephalic white matter of 12 premature and mature infants (gestational age 22–40 weeks; survival 0–96 days). GFM was found in all cases apart from a 22-week-old fetus, and involves predominantly astrocytic cells (68.8%), then glioblasts (43.5%), but only 7.4% of oligodendrocytes. GFM, therefore, seems to be independent of the myelination process and indicates the vulnerability of the immature neuroglial population in the metabolic and circulatory disorders of the perinatal period. Since GFM is found in almost all children dying within the early postnatal period, this subtle alteration reflects a special form of minimal brain damage. The relationship between GFM, astrocytic hypertrophy and periventricular leucomalacia and their role in the telencephalic leucoencephalopathy are discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Die Gliazellverfettung im unreifen Großhirn-Marklager wurde bei 12 Kindern ultrastrukturell untersucht (Gestationsalter 22–40 Wochen; Überlebenszeit 0–96 Tage). Die „fettige Metamorphose” der Neuroglia (Virchow) fand sich in allen Fällen, ausgenommen den 22 Wochen alten Feten, und betrifft vorwiegend junge Astrozyten (68,8%), ferner zu 43,5% unreife Vorstufen, jedoch nur zu 7.4% die (z.Z. der Geburt erst in Erscheinung tretende) Oligodendroglia. Die Fett-Metamorphose der unreifen Glia stellt einen sensiblen Indikator für metabolisch-zirkulatorische Störungen der Perinatalperiode dar und erfolgt unabhängig von dem Prozeß der Markscheidenbildung. Zusammen mit einer oft auffälligen Astroglia-Proliferation ist die intracytoplasmatische Akkumulation nicht membrangebundener Lipide Ausdruck einer temporären Differenzierungsstörung der unreifen Neuroglia. Die resultierende Reifungsdissoziation mit Unterdrückung der oligodendrozytären Zellinie führt zur retardierten Markscheidenbildung und dem Bild der telencephalen Leucoencephalopathie.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Neuropathologie, Institut für Pathologie im Klinikum Charlottenburg, Kinderklinik und Poliklinik (KAVH), Freie Universität Berlin (West), Hindenburgdamm 30, D-1000, Berlin 45

    H. Schneider, J. Sperner, J. U. Dröszus & H. Schachinger

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  1. H. Schneider
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  2. J. Sperner
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  3. J. U. Dröszus
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  4. H. Schachinger
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Schneider, H., Sperner, J., Dröszus, J.U. et al. Ultrastructure of the neuroglial fatty metamorphosis (virchow) in the perinatal period. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 372, 183–194 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00433278

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