A Golgi Study of Cerebellar Atrophy in Human Chronic Alcoholism

Abstract

When processed by the rapid Golgi method, a significant reduction (P less than 0.002) of the dendritic arborization of Purkinje cells located at the tips of the folia of the rostral vermis was demonstrated in four human cases of cerebellar atrophy, related to chronic alcohol consumption. Except for isolated damaged Purkinje cells located on the depth of the sulci of the rostral vermis in all but one case, no significant differences were observed between alcoholic cases and controls of comparable ages among Purkinje cells located in the remainder of the vermis or the cerebellar hemispheres. These results suggest that structural changes, which precede neuronal death and cell loss, are present in Purkinje cells of the rostral vermis in human cerebellar alcoholic degeneration.

Mechanisms of ethanol-induced degeneration in the developing, mature, and aging cerebellum

“…flocculonodular lobe and the central white matter, have displayed volume loss in human alcoholics (1,16). The main neuropathological features supposed to contribute to the cerebellar atrophy are loss and/or atrophy of Purkinje cells (14,(17)(18)(19) and a decrease in the volume of Purkinje cell dendritic network in the molecular layer (14,20). Ethanol-induced degenerative changes in the Purkinje cell dendrites and their synapses in the molecular layer have been confirmed by several wellconducted experimental studies (21)(22)(23).…”

Mechanisms of ethanol-induced degeneration in the developing, mature, and aging cerebellum

“…flocculonodular lobe and the central white matter, have displayed volume loss in human alcoholics (1,16). The main neuropathological features supposed to contribute to the cerebellar atrophy are loss and/or atrophy of Purkinje cells (14,(17)(18)(19) and a decrease in the volume of Purkinje cell dendritic network in the molecular layer (14,20). Ethanol-induced degenerative changes in the Purkinje cell dendrites and their synapses in the molecular layer have been confirmed by several wellconducted experimental studies (21)(22)(23).…”

Effects of drinking on late-life brain and cognition

“…The cerebellum, known for its importance in motor function, is now additionally thought to play a role in memory disturbance 17. A number of neuropathological studies have established cerebellar atrophy in chronic alcohol abuse 18. Mammillary body atrophy is almost universal in chronic alcoholism.…”

Reduced Purkinje cell dendritic arborization and loss of dendritic spines in essential tremor

“…A reduction in dendritic arborization is a structural change associated with dysfunction, and it is thought to precede neuronal death (Ferrer et al, 1984). This type of change is not specific to essential tremor, and it has been noted in Purkinje cells in patients with hereditary ataxias (Shintaku and Kaneda, 2009) as well as Purkinje cells in chronic alcoholics (Ferrer et al, 1984). Hence, these changes are a marker of neurons in extremis.…”

Mechanisms of ethanol-induced degeneration in the developing, mature, and aging cerebellum

“…flocculonodular lobe and the central white matter, have displayed volume loss in human alcoholics (1,16). The main neuropathological features supposed to contribute to the cerebellar atrophy are loss and/or atrophy of Purkinje cells (14,(17)(18)(19) and a decrease in the volume of Purkinje cell dendritic network in the molecular layer (14,20). Ethanol-induced degenerative changes in the Purkinje cell dendrites and their synapses in the molecular layer have been confirmed by several wellconducted experimental studies (21)(22)(23).…”

Effects of drinking on late-life brain and cognition

“…The cerebellum, known for its importance in motor function, is now additionally thought to play a role in memory disturbance 17. A number of neuropathological studies have established cerebellar atrophy in chronic alcohol abuse 18. Mammillary body atrophy is almost universal in chronic alcoholism.…”

Reduced Purkinje cell dendritic arborization and loss of dendritic spines in essential tremor

“…A reduction in dendritic arborization is a structural change associated with dysfunction, and it is thought to precede neuronal death (Ferrer et al, 1984). This type of change is not specific to essential tremor, and it has been noted in Purkinje cells in patients with hereditary ataxias (Shintaku and Kaneda, 2009) as well as Purkinje cells in chronic alcoholics (Ferrer et al, 1984). Hence, these changes are a marker of neurons in extremis.…”

Mechanisms of ethanol-induced degeneration in the developing, mature, and aging cerebellum

“…flocculonodular lobe and the central white matter, have displayed volume loss in human alcoholics (1,16). The main neuropathological features supposed to contribute to the cerebellar atrophy are loss and/or atrophy of Purkinje cells (14,(17)(18)(19) and a decrease in the volume of Purkinje cell dendritic network in the molecular layer (14,20). Ethanol-induced degenerative changes in the Purkinje cell dendrites and their synapses in the molecular layer have been confirmed by several wellconducted experimental studies (21)(22)(23).…”

Effects of drinking on late-life brain and cognition

“…The cerebellum, known for its importance in motor function, is now additionally thought to play a role in memory disturbance 17. A number of neuropathological studies have established cerebellar atrophy in chronic alcohol abuse 18. Mammillary body atrophy is almost universal in chronic alcoholism.…”

Reduced Purkinje cell dendritic arborization and loss of dendritic spines in essential tremor

“…A reduction in dendritic arborization is a structural change associated with dysfunction, and it is thought to precede neuronal death (Ferrer et al, 1984). This type of change is not specific to essential tremor, and it has been noted in Purkinje cells in patients with hereditary ataxias (Shintaku and Kaneda, 2009) as well as Purkinje cells in chronic alcoholics (Ferrer et al, 1984). Hence, these changes are a marker of neurons in extremis.…”