Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: July 19, 2019
Regional variations in the extent and pattern of grey matter demyelination in multiple sclerosis: a comparison
C P Gilmore1, I Donaldson, L Bö
1Department of Neurology, B Floor Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre NHS Trust, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK. chris.gilmore@nottingham.ac.uk
Background:
Substantial grey matter (GM) demyelination occurs in both the cerebral cortex and spinal cord in multiple sclerosis (MS). GM demyelination also occurs in the cerebellar cortex and the deep GM nuclei of the brain. However, no study has made a direct "within subject" comparison of the extent of GM pathology between these regions.
Aim:
To examine the extent and pattern of GM demyelination in the motor cortex, cingulate gyrus, cerebellum, thalamus and spinal cord in MS.
Methods:
Postmortem study using material from 14 MS cases and three controls. Sections were taken from the five predetermined areas and stained for proteolipid protein. The extent of GM and white matter (WM) demyelination was assessed in each region.
Results And Conclusion:
Overall, 28.8% of the GM was demyelinated compared with 15.6% of the WM (p<0.001), with demyelination being greater in the GM than in the WM at each of the anatomical sites. There was substantial variation in the extent of demyelination between the different CNS regions. GM demyelination was most extensive in the spinal cord and cerebellum while WM demyelination was most prominent in the spinal cord.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
01:16Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
01:11Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview II
01:17Cerebellum: Anatomical Regions
Cerebellar Structure
Externally, the cerebellum features a highly convoluted surface with numerous folia (narrow ridges) separated by shallow sulci (grooves). The cerebellum is divided into two hemispheres by a thin median structure known as the vermis. The...
01:54The Spinal Cord
01:20Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions
The cerebrum is the largest section of the brain and divides into left and right hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure. The cerebral outer layer of grey matter — the cerebral cortex — comprises elevations called gyri and shallow groves called sulci. The inner portion of white matter includes long nerve fibers known as axons, which connect various areas...