Malignant astrocytoma with binucleated granular cells in a Sprague-Dawley rat

A 2-year-old Sprague-Dawley rat with hindlimb paralysis was diagnosed with a cerebral malignant astrocytoma. The distinctive feature of this astrocytoma was the presence of scattered binucleated cells that contained hypereosinophilic, 1-2 micro m in diameter, cytoplasmic granules. The neoplastic astrocytes stained positively for vimentin (VIM), lysozyme, and phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin (PTAH). Within the binucleated cells, granules stained with PTAH and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) before and after diastase digestion. Ultrastructurally, neoplastic astrocytes were characterized by cytoplasmic aggregates of electron-dense intermediate filaments consistent with VIM and desmin. The cytoplasm of binucleated cells contained numerous phagolysosomes enlarged by myelin figures and glycoprotein or glycolipid. Intermediate filaments were not present. This is the first description, in the rat, of a neoplasm with features resembling the human granular cell astrocytoma. Our findings suggest that an astrocytic origin should be considered for the binucleated cells in this neoplasm.