Cytoplasmic argyrophilic inclusions in neurons of pontine nuclei in patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy: immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies

Abstract

Patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) were studied, and cytoplasmic inclusions were observed in some of the remaining neurons of the pontine nuclei, nuclei reticularis tegmenti pontis and arcuate nuclei. The cytoplasmic argyrophilic inclusions were demonstrated by silver impregnation techniques such as Bielschowsky and Bodian staining. With hematoxylin and eosin stain, the inclusions were sharply demarcated and appeared pale. The inclusions were not stained by the following routine histological methods: Klüver-Barrera, phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin, Holzer, periodic acid-Schiff, Mallory azan, alcian blue, nile blue, Masson trichrome, Congo red, thioflavine S, oil red O and Sudan black B stains. Immunohistochemistry with anti-ubiquitin antiserum showed that these inclusions were ubiquitinated. However, the inclusions did not react with any of the following antibodies (Abs) or antisera: anti-phosphorylated neurofilament (NF) Ab, anti-nonphosphorylated NF Abs (160 and 200 kDa), anti-paired helical filament antiserum, anti-tau antiserum, anti-tubulin Abs (alpha and beta), anti-microtubule-associated protein antiserum, anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein antiserum, anti-vimentin Ab, anti-desmin Ab, anti-cytokeratin Abs (low and high molecular weights), anti-actin antiserum, anti-skeletal myosin antiserum and anti-myelin basic protein Ab. Ultrastructurally, the inclusion bodies noted in OPCA were composed primarily of fibrils having a width ranging from about 24 to 40 nm, which were entirely coated with osmiophilic granular material along their whole length. They were occasionally intermingled with a few filaments about 10 nm in width. Electron microscopical examination on silver-impregnated specimens revealed that each granule-coated fibril had a great affinity for silver particles. In elucidating the pathogenesis of OPCA, it was considered to be an important neuropathological finding that some of the remaining pontine neurons affected by OPCA developed characteristic cytoplasmic argyrophilic inclusions.