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Non‐motor Neuron System in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Involvement of Clarke's Column and Intermediolateral Nucleus
Author(s) -
Takahashi Hitoshi,
Oyanagi Kiyomitsu,
Ikuta Fusahiro
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
neuropathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1440-1789
pISSN - 0919-6544
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1789.1993.tb00199.x
Subject(s) - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , motor neuron , spinal cord , neuroscience , neuron , biology , anatomy , medicine , disease , pathology
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the motor neuron system. However dose only the motor neuron system degenerate selectively in this disease? On the basis of histologic and morphometric studies on Clarke's column and intermediolateral nucleus (IML) neurons, which belong to the non‐motor neuron system in the spinal cord, we report in this Symposium presentation that in sporadic ALS, they are also primarily involved in the disease process. However, the rate of degeneration of these neurons is much slower than that of lower motor neurons. Our results indicate that Clarke's column neurons and IML neurons in the lower thoracic segments may start to disappear after the patients have begun to require respiratory support, which is the final stage of the natural hintory of the disease. In addition, it should also be empasized that Bunina bodies and spheroids are neuropathological features of Clarke's column in ALS patients, but not of the IML.