Alzheimer type II glia
Alzheimer type II glia are a type of glial cell. They are a pathological reactive astrocyte seen in the brain, unrelated to Alzheimer disease. They are seen most frequently in Wilson disease, but also in other systemic metabolic disorders, particularly those with elevated ammonia levels, typically due to hepatic impairment but sometimes also seen in other causes of systemic metabolic impairment, such as impaired renal function 1,2.
They are seen in grey matter, particularly deep grey matter nuclei (e.g. putamina, globus pallidi and dentate nuclei) 1,2.
Pathology
Microscopically these reactive astrocytes demonstrate enlarged pale nuclei, due to inconspicuous chromatin granules, with one or two sharply demarcated PAS-positive bodies adjacent to the nuclear membrane 1. GFAP staining of the cell body is poor 2. On electron microscopy, numerous mitochondria are evident 1.
Related Radiopaedia articles
Histology
- cells
- immunohistochemistry
-
histological stains
- alcian blue stain
- azan stain
- Giemsa stain
- Gram stain
- hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E)
- immunoperoxidase staining
- Luxol fast blue stain
- Masson's trichrome stain
- methylene blue
- Nissl stain
- oil red O stain
- osmium stain
- Papanicolaou stain
- periodic acid-Schiff reaction (PAS)
- Prussian blue stain
- reticulin stain
- silver stain
- Sudan stains
- toluidine blue stain
- van Gieson stain
- Ziehl-Neelsen stain
- regions
- specific features and structures
- blood brain barrier
- glymphatic pathway
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.