AMYLOID PLAQUES IN THE BRAINS OF MICE INFECTED WITH SCRAPIE: MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION AND STAINING PROPERTIES

Abstract

Amyloid plaques in the brains of mice infected with scrapie: morphological variation and staining properties Cerebral amyloid deposits predominantly in the form of plaques are associated with experimental scrapie produced by particular agents in inbred mice. In this paper the staining properties and variation in the morphology of these deposits are described. At the light microscope level a discretionary classification into six types is made: shadowy plaques; amorphous plaques; stellate plaques; giant plaques; diffuse amyloid deposits; and perivascular amyloid deposits. It is shown that Masson's trichrome technique provides the most efficient staining method for identifying cerebral amyloid of all these types. A preliminary ultrastructural examination of stellate plaques confirms the presence of amyloid on the basis of characteristic fibrils and demonstrates that microglia and distended neurites are involved in the structure of the plaques. The similarities and differences between cerebral amyloid in scrapie and other forms of amyloid deposits in the brain, particularly kuru plaques and senile plaques, are discussed.