Infrared spectroscopic imaging of the biochemical modifications induced inthe cerebellum of the Niemann-Pick type C mouse

We have applied Fourier transform infrared (IR) spectroscopic imaging to th e investigation of the neuropathologic effects of a genetic lipid storage d isease, Niemann-Pick type C (NPC). Tissue sections both from the cerebella of a strain of BALB/c mice that demonstrated morphology and pathology of th e human disease and from control animals were used. These samples were anal yzed by standard histopathological procedures as well as this new IR imagin g approach. The IR absorbance images exhibit contrast based on biochemical variations and allow for the identification of the cellular layers within t he tissue samples. Furthermore, these images provide a qualitative descript ion of the localized biochemical differences existing between the diseased and control tissue in the absence of histological staining. Statistical ana lyses of the IR spectra extracted from individual cell layers of the imagin g data sets provide concise quantitative descriptions of these biochemical changes. The results indicate that lipid is depleted specifically in the wh ite matter of the NPC mouse in comparison to the control samples. Minor dif ferences were noted for the granular layers, but no significant differences were observed in the molecular layers of the cerebellar tissue. These chan ges are consistent with significant demyelination within the cerebellum of the NPC mouse. (C) 1999 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [S1083-3668(99)00401-3].