REACTIVE ASTROGLIOSIS OF THE SPINAL-CORD IN AMYOTROPHIC-LATERAL-SCLEROSIS

Many observations have been carried out on astrogliosis in the cerebra l cortex in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), whereas little attent ion has been paid to astrogliosis in the spinal cord. Twenty autopsy c ases of sporadic, common form of ALS have been studied. Spinal cords h ave been examined at the cervical, thoracic and lumbar levels by histo logical methods and immunohistochemistry for GFAP, Vimentin, Tau-prote in, Neurofilaments, PCNA. A gliosis was found in the ventral horns, in dorsal horns and at the transition between gray matter and anterior a nd lateral funiculi, especially close to laminae VII, VI and V as bein g due to secondary gliosis. The findings cannot be interpreted on the only basis of the substitutive role of reacting glia. The proposed pat hogenetic mechanisms of ALS are evaluated as possible responsible stim uli; the coincidence of the distribution of reactive astrocytes with t he entering points of the corticospinal tracts into the gray matter is considered of primary importance. Of special interest are reactive as trocytes at the transition between laminae VII, VI and V and the later al funiculus, where dystrophic neurites are known to concentrate.