[Generalized ceroid lipofuscinosis in cocker spaniels]

Results of macroscopic, microscopic and electronmicroscopic investigations of two cocker spaniels with generalized ceroid-lipofuscinosis are recorded. In the nerve system, the lipofuscin granules were mainly localized, primarily in nervous cells and secondarily in glial cells of the medulla oblongata and spinal cord. Extraneuronal lipofuscin granules were found in the smooth muscle fibres (bowel, bladder, trabeculae of the spleen, prostata etc.) and also in the cells of the exocrine pancreas. Electronmicroscopically the lipofuscin granules in the neurons and in the smooth muscle fibres showed the 'typical' structure of lipofuscin, whereas in macrophages and glial cells the lipofuscin appeared as fingerprint-like, pleomorphic, curvilinear and multi-membranous bodies.