Cortical ballooned neurons in progressive supranuclear palsy

Area of Science:

• Neuropathology
• Neurodegenerative Diseases

Background:

• Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disease.
• Ballooned neurons (BNs) are abnormal cellular structures observed in certain neurological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence and characteristics of ballooned neurons (BNs) in the cerebral cortex of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
• To compare the immunohistochemical profile of BNs in PSP with those found in other neurodegenerative diseases.

Main Methods:

• Utilized immunohistochemistry for phosphorylated neurofilament and standard histologic staining methods.
• Examined brain tissue from nine patients diagnosed with PSP.
• Assessed BNs for positivity with phosphorylated neurofilament, alpha B crystallin, ubiquitin, and tau protein.

Main Results:

• Ballooned neurons (BNs) were identified in the cerebral cortex of six out of nine PSP patients studied.
• BNs were abundant in two patients with concurrent cortical degeneration, particularly in the precentral cortex.
• Immunohistochemistry revealed BNs positive for phosphorylated neurofilament and alpha B crystallin; some also stained for ubiquitin and tau protein.

Conclusions:

• The presence of cortical ballooned neurons (BNs) is a feature observed in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
• The immunohistochemical profile of BNs in PSP is similar to that seen in corticobasal degeneration.
• Cortical BNs do not definitively distinguish PSP from corticobasal degeneration, though they appear less frequent in PSP without cortical degeneration.