Leber's congenital amaurosis

An early stage of Leber's congenital amaurosis, characterized by white spots or lines in the fundus, occurred in two children. Light microscopic examination of eyes obtained from one child, a 16-month-old Japanese girl, revealed subretinal deposits corresponding to the white spots and lines in the fundus deposits. Light and electron microscopic examination of the eye showed distinctive changes in the outer retinal layers and choroid, while the inner retinal layers were nearly normal. Characteristic early lesions of congenital amaurosis appeared to be produced by deposits consisting of loose outer segments and apical processes of the pigmental epithelial cell and macrophages. Undifferentiation in the nuclei of the photoreceptor cell, the inner segment, the pigment epithelial cell, and the choriocapillaris were likely characteristics of the early changes of congenital amaurosis.

Cerebellar glioblastoma in childhood. Case report

Ten childhood cerebellar glioblastomas have been reported previously in the world literature. The authors report a case arising de novo in a 9-year-old child and stress the rarity of this tumor.

Eosinophilic granular ceels in oligodendrogliomas. An ultrastructural study

In three cases of oligodendrogliomas, atypical cells rich in eosinophilic cytoplasm, resembling plump astroyctic or astroblastic cells, were studied under the electron microscopy. These cells showed finely granular cytoplasm with routine hematoxylin-eosin preparation; ultrastructurally, they exhibited abundant, round cytoplasmic bodies of autophagic-vacuole type, in addition to other fine structures characteristic of oligodendroglioma cells.

Origin of ghost cell in Coats' disease

A morphological study of Coats' disease was performed with light and electron microscopy. The choroid was intact throughout. The pigment epithelial cells showed proliferative changes, being thickened in two or three rows. The transitional form of ghost cell was observed in contact with the pigment epithelial layer, then migrated toward the subretinal space, and finally invaded the detached retina. It was concluded that the origin of ghost cell in Coats' disease was the pigment epithelium.

Intracranial hemangiopericytomas. Angiography, pathology and differential diagnosis

Intracranial hemangiopericytomas are tumors which angiographically and histologically can mimic other vascular intracranial masses. The term angioblastic meningioma has been applied to this tumor and to other vascular tumors. However, hemangiopericytomas have a unique biological behavior and prognosis as they tend to recur or metastasize and are insensitive to radiation. Hence, the importance of their specific recognition is emphasized. This is a report of the roentgenologic and pathologic fidings in five cases of histologically verified intracranial hemangiopericytomas. The angiographic findings common to these tumors include a myriad of tiny irregular feeding vessels springing from a main trunk, an intense fluffy type of stain, lack of early veins, and prolonged tumor circulation time. The major arterial supply is from the internal carotid or vertebral circulation rather than from external (meningeal) vessels. Differentiation from other vascular tumors particularly supratentorial hemangioblastoma, glioblastoma multiforme, as well as from vascular meningothelial meningioma is important from both the angiographic and histologic aspects.

Effect of thyrocalcitonin on calcium concentration in liver of intact and thyroparathyroidectomized rats

Thyrocalcitonin (TCT; 80 MRC mU/100g) administered SC to intact and thyroparathyroidectomized rats, caused a significant decrease in serum calcium, while increasing the liver calcium concentration. The accumulation of calcium in the liver, induced by TCT, was potentiated by the injection of calcium in both intact and thyroparathyroidectomized rats. In thyroparathyroidectomized rats, the administration of imidazole (30 mg/100 g) produced a significant increase in liver calcium and a corresponding fall in serum calcium. The rise in liver calcium produced by TCT was slightly potentiated by prior administration of imidazole, but was not enhanced by prior administration of theophylline (12 mg/100 g) which caused a significant elevation of serum calcium. These results suggest that the action of TCT on liver calcium does not involve cyclic AMP.

Electron microscopic studies on zonular fibers. II. Changes of the zonular fibers after the treatment with collagenase, alpha-chymotrypsin and hyaluronidase

Adult rabbit zonular fibers maintained in their native condition were treated with collagenase, alpha-chymotrypsin and hyaluronidase, and were observed with the electron microscope. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Collagenase digested the lens capsule, but not the zonular fibers. 2. Long time collagenase action obscured the cell membrane of the lens epithelium and the basal lamina of the ciliary epithelium. 3. Washing with 0.9% NaCl increased the collagenase action on the lens capsule. 4. Alpha-chymotrypsin digested the zonular fibers and the zonular lemalla, but not the lens capsule and the basal lamina of the ciliary epithelium. 5, Hyaluronidase only slightly changed the lens capsule. 6. The vitreous fibers were digested by collagenase, but not by alpha-chymotrypsin or hyaluronidase. Thes results together with the review of recent literature indicate that the zonular fiber has a nature close to that of the microfibril of elastic fiber.

Infantile spongy degeneration of the central nervous system associated with glycogen storage and markedly fatty liver

The clinical, biochemical, and pathological features of an unusual expression of infantile spongy degeneration of the central white matter are presented with emphasis on neuropathological observations. The topographical distribution of the spongy change along with the observed defect in myelination were such as to suggest an arrest in development of the white matter in late foetal life. Of additional interest, in the present case, is the observed deposition of glycogen in the brain, heart, and liver along with a markedly fatty liver. Our findings are compared with those in other cases of so-called spongy degeneration, as well as with certain of the aminoacidurias and, as a consequence, we wish to suggest that the basic pathogenetic factor probably lies in a disturbance of the biochemical energy supply system rather than in a disorder of myelin lipid metabolism per se.