Novel eosinophilic inclusion in astrocytes

Intracytoplasmic and brightly eosinophilic inclusions within neuroglias are reported in a patient with Aicardi's syndrome. Most inclusion-bearing neuroglias were protoplasmic astrocytes in the cerebral cortex. Compared with similar eosinophilic and intracytoplasmic inclusions in other studies using both light and electron microscopy, the inclusions in this report are regarded as being novel and not previously described. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions were composed of electron-dense granules and amorphous substances, and were not surrounded by a limiting membrane. They were numerous in the cerebral cortex, especially in part of the microgyrus, but absent in the deep cerebral white matter, subcortical nuclei, brain stem and the cerebellum. Therefore, they may be closely associated with brain malformation and congenital astrocytic dysfunction. They also suggested a functional difference in protoplasmic astrocytes themselves, according to the differentiation of related gray matter.