[Astroglial dystrophies]

Abstract

An account is given of the concept of glial dystrophies (SEITELBERGER 1970), with reference being made to the astroglial syndromes involved, that is to the complex of astroglial dystrophy (AD). Basic research more recently conducted on the physiology of astroglia seem to support the assumption that astroglia represents a particular pattern of cytochemical processes and regulations which, in response to disturbance, is likely to cause characteristic and quite often selective morphological alterations. A distinction is made between 3 sub-groups of AD, that is AD proper in a more limited sense, gliovasal dystrophy (GVD), and glioneuronal dystrophy (GND). In this context, the most common forms of astroglial alterations are discussed in keeping with the above definition. The Rosenthal fibre is defined as a disorder of the astroglial cytoskeleton which may grow manifest as reactive or systemic alterations, depending on expression. The various forms of abnormal astrocytes in hepatogenic AD were found to differ from each other in both morphology and immunocytochemical reactivity, according to their particular pathogenetic patterns. Presenile glial dystrophy is a senile disease that is characterised by massive numerical increase in astrocytes, primarily at the corticomedullary interface and is accompanied by diffuse cerebral atrophy but only minor nerve cell alterations. It is thus an entity in its own right, apart from Pick's and Alzheimer's diseases. A selective astroglial oedema may be experimentally induced in regions of epileptic hyperactivity of nerve cells by systemic administration of kainic acid. It is in conformity with the functional linkage of astrocytes with cerebral vessels and neurons that AD is quite often associated with alterations of these structures, as well: GVD and GND.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)