[Ultrastructure of neurons with initial signs of ischemization in schizophrenia]

The authors studied two cases of sudden death of schizophrenia patients aged 23 and 40 years who died from acute asphyxia. Two types of ultrastructural changes in their cortical neurons are described: gradual lightening of the cytoplasm and nuclei in some cells; cytoplasm lightening, perinuclear edema and increased nuclear density due to condensed chromatin in others. Cytoplasm lightening is explained by swelling of the cysterns of the endoplasmatic reticulum and loss of polysomes. The first type of changes was characteristic of cortical pyramidal neurons; the second, of cortical interneurons. The described types of neuronal changes were combined with the appearance of hyperchromic and shrunk neurons whose formation is believed to be related to the schizophrenic process. The probable reversibility of neuronal alterations in acute asphyxia is discussed.