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Flegel T, Dirauf C, Kehl A, Dietzel J, Holtdirk A, Langbein-Detsch I, Müller E. Clinical Signs in 166 Beagles with Different Genotypes of Lafora. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:122. [PMID: 38275603 PMCID: PMC10815021 DOI: 10.3390/genes15010122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Lafora disease (LD) is a genetic disease affecting beagles, resulting in seizures in combination with other signs. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical signs of LD in beagles with different NHLRC1 genotypes. One hundred and sixty-six beagles were tested for an NHLRC1 gene defect: L/L (n = 67), N/L (n = 32), N/N (n = 67). Owners were asked to participate in a survey about the clinical signs of LD in their dogs. These were recorded for the three possible genotypes in the two age groups, <6 years and ≥6 years. In all genotypes, nearly all the signs of LD were described. In the age group ≥ 6 years, however, they were significantly more frequent in beagles with the L/L genotype. If the following three clinical signs occur together in a beagle ≥ 6 years-jerking of the head, photosensitivity and forgetting things he/she used to be able to do-98.2% of these dogs are correctly assigned to the L/L genotype. If one or two of these signs are missing, the correct classification decreases to 92.1% and 13.2%, respectively. Only the combination of certain signs truly indicates the L/L genotype. Yet, for many dogs, only genetic testing will provide confirmation of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Flegel
- Department for Small Animals, Veterinary Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Christine Dirauf
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG, 97688 Bad Kissingen, Germany; (C.D.); (A.K.); (I.L.-D.); (E.M.)
| | - Alexandra Kehl
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG, 97688 Bad Kissingen, Germany; (C.D.); (A.K.); (I.L.-D.); (E.M.)
| | - Josephine Dietzel
- Department for Small Animals, Veterinary Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
| | | | - Ines Langbein-Detsch
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG, 97688 Bad Kissingen, Germany; (C.D.); (A.K.); (I.L.-D.); (E.M.)
| | - Elisabeth Müller
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG, 97688 Bad Kissingen, Germany; (C.D.); (A.K.); (I.L.-D.); (E.M.)
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Gumber S, Connor-Stroud F, Howard D, Zhang X, Bradley BJ, Sherwood CC, Walker LC. Polyglucosan body disease in an aged chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). Neuropathology 2023; 43:463-471. [PMID: 37086019 PMCID: PMC10642523 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
A 57-year-old female chimpanzee presented with a brief history of increasing lethargy and rapidly progressive lower-limb weakness that culminated in loss of use. Postmortem examination revealed no significant gross lesions in the nervous system or other organ systems. Histological analysis revealed round, basophilic to amphophilic polyglucosan bodies (PGBs) in the white and gray matter of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and coccygeal regions of spinal cord. Only rare PGBs were observed in forebrain samples. The lesions in the spinal cord were polymorphic, and they were positively stained with hematoxylin, periodic acid Schiff, Alcian blue, toluidine blue, Bielschowsky silver, and Grocott-Gomori methenamine-silver methods, and they were negative for von Kossa and Congo Red stains. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed reactivity with antibodies to ubiquitin, but they were negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein, neuron-specific enolase, neurofilaments, tau protein, and Aβ protein. Electron microscopy revealed non-membrane-bound deposits composed of densely packed filaments within axons and in the extracellular space. Intra-axonal PGBs were associated with disruption of the axonal fine structure and disintegration of the surrounding myelin sheath. These findings are the first description of PGBs linked to neurological dysfunction in a chimpanzee. Clinicopathologically, the disorder resembled adult PGB disease in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeev Gumber
- Division of Pathology, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Fawn Connor-Stroud
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Dustin Howard
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- Emory Primate Center Imaging Center, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Brenda J. Bradley
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Chet C. Sherwood
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Lary C. Walker
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
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Yoshimura H, Torikai K, Takahashi A, Michishita M, Kishimoto TE, Yamamoto M, Haritani M, Takahashi K, Kamiya S. Histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of polyglucosan bodies in uterine smooth muscle of pet rabbits (Oryctolaguscuniculus). J Comp Pathol 2023; 201:28-32. [PMID: 36669389 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2022.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
We document the frequency and morphological and immunohistochemical features of inclusion bodies in uterine smooth muscle cells in 56 (76%) of 74 investigated pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Inclusion bodies began to appear at the age of 2 years and their frequency increased with age (P = 0.047, r = 0.33). They ranged from 5 to 20 μm in diameter, were slightly basophilic to amphophilic with well-delimited oval bodies in haematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections and formed in the cytoplasm of the uterine smooth muscle cells with displacement of the cell nuclei. The inclusion bodies were positive with periodic acid-Schiff, Best's carmine, Lugol's iodine and Grocott's methenamine silver methods. They were immunoreactive to a monoclonal antibody raised against human polyglucosan and negative with monoclonal antibodies for several intermediate filament proteins. Electron microscopy revealed that they were non-membranous structures composed of electron-dense amorphous material. The morphological, histochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of the inclusion bodies in the rabbi uteri were similar to those of human polyglucosan bodies (PGBs). PGBs appear to occur at a high frequency in the uterus of rabbits, which are known to be susceptible to uterine diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisashi Yoshimura
- Laboratory of Physiological Pathology, Department of Applied Science, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan; Research Center for Animal Life Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Kazushi Torikai
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Anna Takahashi
- Laboratory of Physiological Pathology, Department of Applied Science, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaki Michishita
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan; Research Center for Animal Life Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuya E Kishimoto
- Laboratory of Physiological Pathology, Department of Applied Science, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan; FUJIFILM VET Systems Co., Neo City Mitaka, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masami Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Physiological Pathology, Department of Applied Science, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Haritani
- Laboratory of Physiological Pathology, Department of Applied Science, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan; Environmental Science for Sustainable Development, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kimimasa Takahashi
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinji Kamiya
- Laboratory of Animal Higher Function, Department of Applied Science, School of Veterinary Nursing and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan
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Flegel T, Kornberg M, Mühlhause F, Neumann S, Fischer A, Wielaender F, König F, Pakozdy A, Quitt PR, Trapp AM, Jurina K, Steffen F, Rentmeister KW, Flieshardt C, Dietzel J. A retrospective case series of clinical signs in 28 Beagles with Lafora disease. J Vet Intern Med 2021; 35:2359-2365. [PMID: 34486182 PMCID: PMC8478043 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical signs and their progression in Beagles with Lafora disease are poorly described. OBJECTIVES To describe clinical signs in Beagles with Lafora disease. ANIMALS Twenty-eight Beagles with Lafora disease confirmed by genetic testing or histopathology. METHODS Retrospective multicenter case series. Data regarding signalment, clinical signs, diagnostic tests and treatment were retrieved from hospital data files. A questionnaire was sent to owners asking about neurological deficits, changes in cognitive functions, behavioral changes, response to treatment and survival time. RESULTS Onset of clinical signs was 8.3 years (mean; range, 6.3-13.3). All dogs had myoclonic episodes as an initial clinical sign with tonic-clonic seizures in n = 11/28 (39%) and n = 12/28 (43%) later developing tonic-clonic seizures. Deficits of coordination (n = 21/25; 84%), impaired vision (n = 15/26; 58%), and impaired hearing (n = 13/26; 50%) developed later. Mental decline was observed as loss of house training (urination; n = 8/25; 32%), difficulties performing learned tasks (n = 9/25; 36%), and difficulties learning new tasks (n = 7/23; 30%). Common behavioral changes were: increased photosensitivity (n = 20/26; 77%), staring into space (n = 16/25; 64%), reduced stress resistance (n = 15/26; 58%), increased noise sensitivity (n = 14/26; 54%), and separation anxiety (n = 11/25; 44%). Twenty-one dogs were alive (median age 11.9 years; range, 9.8-18.6), and 7 dogs were dead (mean age 12.1 years; SD: 1.3; range, 10.5-12.6) at time of writing. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Lafora disease in Beagles causes significant behavioral changes, and mental decline as well as neurological deficits in addition to myoclonic episodes and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Nevertheless, a relatively normal life span can be expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Flegel
- Small Animal Department, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineLeipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
| | | | | | | | - Andrea Fischer
- Centre for Clinical Veterinary MedicineLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | | | | | - Akos Pakozdy
- University Clinic for Small AnimalsUniversity of Veterinary MedicineViennaAustria
| | | | | | | | - Frank Steffen
- Neurology Service, Department of Small Animals, Vetsuisse FacultyUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Kai W. Rentmeister
- Specialty Practice for Veterinary Neurology and NeurosurgeryDettelbachGermany
| | | | - Josephine Dietzel
- Small Animal Department, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineLeipzig UniversityLeipzigGermany
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Kehl A, Cizinauskas S, Langbein-Detsch I, Mueller E. NHLRC1 dodecamer expansion in a Welsh Corgi (Pembroke) with Lafora disease. Anim Genet 2019; 50:413-414. [PMID: 31172540 DOI: 10.1111/age.12795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Barrientos L, Maiolini A, Häni A, Jagannathan V, Leeb T. NHLRC1 dodecamer repeat expansion demonstrated by whole genome sequencing in a Chihuahua with Lafora disease. Anim Genet 2018; 50:118-119. [PMID: 30525203 DOI: 10.1111/age.12756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Barrientos
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland.,Instituto de Genética Veterinaria (IGEVET), CCT La Plata - CONICET - Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), CP1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Arianna Maiolini
- Division of Clinical Neurology, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Annakatrin Häni
- Division of Clinical Neurology, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vidhya Jagannathan
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tosso Leeb
- Institute of Genetics, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3001, Bern, Switzerland
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Chambers JK, Thongtharb A, Shiga T, Azakami D, Saito M, Sato M, Morozumi M, Nakayama H, Uchida K. Accumulation of Laforin and Other Related Proteins in Canine Lafora Disease With EPM2B Repeat Expansion. Vet Pathol 2018; 55:543-551. [DOI: 10.1177/0300985818758471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Canine Lafora disease (LD) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder causing nonfatal structural epilepsy, mainly affecting miniature wirehaired dachshunds. Repeat expansion in the EPM2B gene causes a functional impairment of the ubiquitin ligase malin which regulates glycogen metabolism. Abnormally structured glycogen accumulates and develop polyglucosan bodies predominantly in the central nervous system. The authors performed a comprehensive clinical, genetic, and pathological study of 4 LD cases affecting miniature wirehaired dachshund dogs with EPM2B repeat expansions, with systemic distribution of polyglucosan bodies and accumulation of laforin and other functionally associated proteins in the polyglucosan bodies. Myoclonic seizures first appeared at 7–9 years of age, and the dogs died at 14–16 years of age. Immunohistochemistry for calbindin revealed that the polyglucosan bodies were located in the cell bodies and dendritic processes of Purkinje cells. Polyglucosan bodies were also positive for laforin, hsp70, α/β-synuclein, ubiquitin, LC3, and p62. Laforin-positive polyglucosan bodies were located in neurofilament-positive neurons but not in GFAP-positive astrocytes. In nonneural tissues, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive polyglucosan bodies were observed in the heart, skeletal muscle, liver, apocrine sweat gland, and smooth muscle layer of the urinary bladder. In the skeletal muscle, polyglucosan bodies were observed only in type 1 fibers and not in type 2 fibers. The results indicate that although the repeat expansion of the EPM2B gene is specific to dogs, the immunohistochemical properties of polyglucosan body in canine LD are comparable to human LD. However, important phenotypic variations exist between the 2 species including the affected skeletal muscle fiber type.
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Affiliation(s)
- James K. Chambers
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atigan Thongtharb
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takanori Shiga
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daigo Azakami
- Laboratory of Veterinary Nursing, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miyoko Saito
- Laboratory of Veterinary Surgery II, Azabu University, Chuo Ward, Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
| | - Masumi Sato
- National Institute of Animal Health, Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
| | | | - Hiroyuki Nakayama
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Uchida
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan
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8
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Swain L, Key G, Tauro A, Ahonen S, Wang P, Ackerley C, Minassian BA, Rusbridge C. Lafora disease in miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182024. [PMID: 28767715 PMCID: PMC5540395 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lafora disease (LD) is an autosomal recessive late onset, progressive myoclonic epilepsy with a high prevalence in the miniature Wirehaired Dachshund. The disease is due to a mutation in the Epm2b gene which results in intracellular accumulation of abnormal glycogen (Lafora bodies). Recent breed-wide testing suggests that the carrier plus affected rate may be as high as 20%. A characteristic feature of the disease is spontaneous and reflex myoclonus; however clinical signs and disease progression are not well described. A survey was submitted to owners of MWHD which were homozygous for Epm2b mutation (breed club testing program) or had late onset reflex myoclonus and clinical diagnosis of LD. There were 27 dogs (11 male; 16 female) for analysis after young mutation-positive dogs that had yet to develop disease were excluded. Average age of onset of clinical signs was 6.94 years (3.5–12). The most common initial presenting sign was reflex and spontaneous myoclonus (77.8%). Other presenting signs included hypnic myoclonus (51.9%) and generalized seizures (40.7%). Less common presenting signs include focal seizures, “jaw smacking”, “fly catching”, “panic attacks”, impaired vision, aggression and urinary incontinence. All these clinical signs may appear, and then increase in frequency and intensity over time. The myoclonus in particular becomes more severe and more refractory to treatment. Signs that developed later in the disease include dementia (51.9%), blindness (48.1%), aggression to people (25.9%) and dogs (33.3%), deafness (29.6%) and fecal (29.6%) and urinary (37.0%) incontinence as a result of loss of house training (disinhibited type behavior). Further prospective study is needed to further characterize the canine disease and to allow more specific therapeutic strategies and to tailor therapy as the disease progresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Swain
- Fitzpatrick Referrals Orthopedics and Neurology, Halfway Lane, Eashing, Godalming, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Gill Key
- Dachshund Breed Council, Wrington, North Somerset, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Tauro
- Fitzpatrick Referrals Orthopedics and Neurology, Halfway Lane, Eashing, Godalming, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Saija Ahonen
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Peixiang Wang
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Cameron Ackerley
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Berge A. Minassian
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics (Neurology), The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Clare Rusbridge
- Fitzpatrick Referrals Orthopedics and Neurology, Halfway Lane, Eashing, Godalming, Surrey, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Wohlsein P, Deschl U, Baumgärtner W. Nonlesions, unusual cell types, and postmortem artifacts in the central nervous system of domestic animals. Vet Pathol 2012; 50:122-43. [PMID: 22692622 DOI: 10.1177/0300985812450719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In the central nervous system (CNS) of domestic animals, numerous specialized normal structures, unusual cell types, findings of uncertain or no significance, artifacts, and various postmortem alterations can be observed. They may cause confusion for inexperienced pathologists and those not specialized in neuropathology, leading to misinterpretations and wrong diagnoses. Alternatively, changes may mask underlying neuropathological processes. "Specialized structures" comprising the hippocampus and the circumventricular organs, including the vascular organ of the lamina terminalis, subfornical organ, subcommissural organ, pineal gland, median eminence/neurohypophyseal complex, choroid plexus, and area postrema, are displayed. Unusual cell types, including cerebellar external germinal cells, CNS progenitor cells, and Kolmer cells, are presented. In addition, some newly recognized cell types as of yet incompletely understood significance and functionality, such as synantocytes and aldynoglia, are introduced and described. Unusual reactive astrocytes in cats, central chromatolysis, neuronal vacuolation, spheroids, spongiosis, satellitosis, melanosis, neuromelanin, lipofuscin, polyglucosan bodies, and psammoma bodies may represent incidental findings of uncertain or no significance and should not be confused with significant microscopic changes. Auto- and heterolysis as well as handling and histotechnological processing may cause postmortem morphological changes of the CNS, including vacuolization, cerebellar conglutination, dark neurons, Buscaino bodies, freezing, and shrinkage artifacts, all of which have to be differentiated from genuine lesions. Postmortem invasion of micro-organisms should not be confused with intravital infections. Awareness of these different changes and their recognition are a prerequisite for identifying genuine lesions and may help to formulate a professional morphological and etiological diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Wohlsein
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, D-30559 Hannover, Germany.
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Machado-Salas J, Avila-Costa MR, Guevara P, Guevara J, Durón RM, Bai D, Tanaka M, Yamakawa K, Delgado-Escueta AV. Ontogeny of Lafora bodies and neurocytoskeleton changes in Laforin-deficient mice. Exp Neurol 2012; 236:131-40. [PMID: 22542948 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2012.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2012] [Revised: 04/06/2012] [Accepted: 04/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Lafora disease (LD) is an autosomal recessive, always fatal progressive myoclonus epilepsy with rapid cognitive and neurologic deterioration. One of the pathological hallmarks of LD is the presence of cytoplasmic PAS+polyglucosan inclusions called Lafora bodies (LBs). Current clinical and neuropathological views consider LBs to be the cause of neurological derangement of patients. A systematic study of the ontogeny and structural features of the LBs has not been done in the past. Therefore, we undertook a detailed microscopic analysis of the neuropile of a Laforin-deficient (epm2a-/-) mouse model. Wild type and epm2a-/- mice were sacrificed at different ages and their encephalon processed for light microscopy. Luxol-fast-blue, PAS, Bielschowski techniques, as well as immunocytochemistry (TUNEL, Caspase-3, Apaf-1, Cytochrome-C and Neurofilament L antibodies) were used. Young null mice (11 days old) showed necrotic neuronal death in the absence of LBs. Both cell death and LBs showed a progressive increment in size and number with age. Type I LBs emerged at two weeks of age and were distributed in somata and neurites. Type II LBs appeared around the second month of age and always showed a complex architecture and restricted to neuronal somata. Their number was considerably less than type I LBs. Bielschowski method showed neurofibrillary degeneration and senile-like plaques. These changes were more prominent in the hippocampus and ventral pons. Neurofibrillary tangles were already present in 11 days-old experimental animals, whereas senile-like plaques appeared around the third to fourth month of life. The encephalon of null mice was not uniformly affected: Diencephalic structures were spared, whereas cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, pons, hippocampus and cerebellum were notoriously affected. This uneven distribution was present even within the same structure, i.e., hippocampal sectors. Of special relevance, was the observation of the presence of immunoreactivity to neurofilament L on the external rim of type II LBs. Perhaps, type II LB is not the end point of a metabolic abnormality. Instead, we suggest that type II LB is a highly specialized structural and functional entity that emerges as a neuronal response to major carbohydrate metabolism impairment. Early necrotic cell death, neurocytoskeleton derangement, different structural and probably functional profiles for both forms of LBs, a potential relationship between the external rim of the LB type II and the cytoskeleton and an uneven distribution of these abnormalities indicate that LD is both a complex neurodegenerative disease and a glycogen metabolism disorder. Our findings are critical for future studies on disease mechanisms and therapies for LD. Interestingly, the neurodegenerative changes observed in this LD model can also be useful for understanding the process of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Machado-Salas
- Epilepsy Genetics/Genomics Laboratories, Epilepsy Centre of Excellence, Neurology & Research Services, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA.
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12
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Abstract
A 6-yr-old captive-born female fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) had a history of multiple seizures and was treated with diazepam and phenobarbital therapy. Despite medical treatment, the seizures continued. They were intermittent and progressive, resulting in neurologic deficits and death of the animal within 6 mo of onset of the clinical signs. At necropsy, the animal was in good nutritional condition, and no gross lesions were noted in the brain. Histologically, amphophilic to basophilic, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive, diastase-resistant inclusions were present in the brain, heart, and liver. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions were variably electron dense, fibrillary to occasionally granular, and non-membrane bound. The clinical, histologic, and ultrastructural findings were consistent with Lafora's disease, which in humans is a rare, fatal, autosomal recessive hereditary neurometabolic disorder characterized by progressive myoclonic epilepsy. This is the first report of Lafora's-like disease in a fennec fox.
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Abstract
Lafora disease is a rare, fatal, autosomal recessive, progressive myoclonic epilepsy. It may also be considered as a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism because of the formation of polyglucosan inclusion bodies in neural and other tissues due to abnormalities of the proteins laforin or malin. The condition is characterized by epilepsy, myoclonus and dementia. Diagnostic findings on MRI and neurophysiological testing are not definitive and biopsy or genetic studies may be required. Therapy in Lafora disease is currently limited to symptomatic management of the epilepsy, myoclonus and intercurrent complications. With a greater understanding of the pathophysiological processes involved, there is justified hope for future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Monaghan
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Beaumont Hospital and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 9, Ireland
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14
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Gabor LJ, Srivastava M. Polyglucosan inclusions (Lafora bodies) in a gray-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus). J Vet Diagn Invest 2010; 22:303-4. [PMID: 20224098 DOI: 10.1177/104063871002200226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglucosan bodies (Lafora bodies) were identified in a juvenile gray-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) with neurological signs. The structures were only noted in the brain stem, and no associated degenerative changes were present. These structures have not been previously identified in any species in the order Chiroptera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Les J Gabor
- State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, EMAI, DII NSW, Menangle, Australia.
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Abstract
A glycogen storage disease affecting primarily the skeletal muscle and, to a lesser degree, the cardiac muscle, spinal cord, and brain was diagnosed in a 10-year-old neutered Abyssinian cat with a 4-year history of paresis progressing to acute paralysis. Microscopically, these tissues contained inclusions that were pale basophilic in hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides, diastase resistant, periodic acid-Schiff positive, and blue-to-almost black with iodine stain. By transmission electron microscopy, the inclusions consisted of cytosolic, usually sharply demarcated, nonmembrane-bound deposits of finely granular and filamentous material. On the basis of the structural and histochemical staining characteristics, the inclusions were believed to be aggregates of abnormally stored, unbranched glycogen. A defect in glucose metabolism is suspected to be the underlying pathologic process, but an exact cause remains elusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- I M Langohr
- Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2065, USA.
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Schoeman T, Williams J, Wilpe E. Polyglucosan Storage Disease in a Dog Resembling Lafora's Disease. J Vet Intern Med 2002. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2002.tb02356.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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