Pathologic Basis of Diseases Neuropathology

1. Pathologic Basis of DiseasesNeuropathology Jean Michaud, MD, FRCPC CMM 5001 March 2, 2011

2. Plan of the course • Introduction and basic changes in the CNS and PNS • Stroke • Tumours • Neurodegeneration • Inflammation and white matter diseases • Muscle disorders

3. Major cells of the CNS • Neurons • Glial cells: -astrocytes -oligodendrocytes -ependymal cells -microglial cells

4. Supporting structures • Meninges: arachnoid cells • Choroid plexus • Blood vessels: blood-brain barrier

5. Organization of the CNS and diseases • Not all cells in the CNS are ‘equal’: while some disease processes affect some groups of cells more than others (‘selective vulnerability’), other disease processes could affect other areas more. • Not all areas in the brain are equal: most areas in the brain have specific functions: a same disease process in two different areas of the brain, often give different symptoms. • Some disease processes are the same in the brain as elsewhere in the body, while others are unique to the brain (eg demyelinative disease, neurodegenerations)

6. NEURON • Maturity: G0 phase • Great metabolic activity requiring a continuous supply of O2 and glucose

13. Neuronal cell death • Necrosis; phagocytosis by macrophages: acute neuronal death, viral infections • Apoptosis • ‘Simple atrophy’: loss of cell volume and ultimately cell death due to metabolic derangement (often in neurodegeneration).

29. Peripheral Myelin/Nerves

30. Normal nerve

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