Bunina bodies in neurons of the medullary reticular formation in a case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

In an autopsied case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with dementia (a 65-year-old man with a 4-year course) showing numerous Bunina bodies in the lower motor neurons including those of cranial motor nuclei, eosinophilic inclusions were also observed in several neurons of the reticular formation of the medulla oblongata. Some of them were confirmed to be Bunina bodies by electron microscopy. These findings indicate either that Bunina bodies can appear in neurons other than the so-called motor neurons or that the neurons in the medullary reticular formation that contain such inclusions may be lower motor neurons in the aberrant place.