Widespread intranuclear neuronal corpuscles (Marinesco bodies) associated with a familial spinal degeneration with cranial and peripheral nerve involvement.

Widespread intranuclear, paranucleolar, acidophilic corpuscles, known as Marinesco bodies, were found in association with degeneration of the posterior columns of ting at the age of 45 years. Neurological examination of his sister (aged 51 years) inciates that she is suffering from the same diseases. The cases appear to belong to the predominantly spinal form of spino-cerebellar degenerations or Friedreich's ataxia. This report, which includes an electron microscope examination, considers the pathological significance of Marinesco bodies.