[Cytopathological changes in human and animal brain in prion diseases].

The study of brain histological sections of humans and animals afflicted by prion diseases has shown that neuronal vacuolization began in and intensely spread from the distal portions of dendrites. Two types of neuronal cell body death were demonstrated, including cytolysis and pyknosis, the latter being usually associated with dendrite vacuolization. The involvement of major glial types in the pathogenesis of prion diseases was established, which argues against the concept of astrocytosis in favor glyosis. The accumulation of phagocytes (microgliocytes, blood macrophages, pericytes) and emigration of lymphocytes from the blood vessels with diffuse infiltration of brain tissue and formation of aggregates around degenerating neurons, were noted.