CORPORA AMYLACEA OF THE OPTIC-NERVE AND RETINA - A FORM OF NEURONAL DEGENERATION

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 19  (5) , 550-555
Abstract
Autopsy eyes (100) were examined by light microscopy. Corpora amylacea (CA) occurred in 93% of the cases. Histochemical stains showed these deposits are composed of sulfated polysaccharides. The fine structure of CA showed delicate, straight 6-7 nm thick filaments best demonstrated with the Thiery stain. In 3 cases, electron-dense vesicles resembling presynaptic vesicles were noted. These structures are characteristic of axons rather than of glial cells and may be related to protein synthesis. CA were present within myelinated and unmyelinated nerves and probably represent products of axonal degeneration.