Thickening of the Muscle Capillary Basement Membrane in Various Neuromuscular Diseases and in the Aged

Abstract

Biopsied muscles in 53 cases of the neuromuscular diseases and in 20 cases of the aged were examined electron microscopically. Measurement of the thickness of capillary basement membrane was made on their minimum width. Following results were obtained.
1) Normal value: Examination on the 9 cases, which showed no remarkable changes in the muscle, revealed average 1080Å, maximum 2750Å in the thickness of their capillary basement membrane.
2) In thirteen cases of diabetes mellitus, the basement membrane of all capillaries showed prominent thickening and some capillaries were degenerated with collagen proliferation in or around the basement membrane. Average thickness was 5550Å and maximum value was 10000Å.
3) In some cases of the neuromuscular diseases other than diabetes mellitus, especially in the polyneuropathies due to alcohol intoxication and arsenic intoxication and also in parkinsonism, thickening of the capillary basement membrane was noticed.
4) In the aged the capillary basement membrane showed moderate thickening, average 1580Å, maximum 3580Å. In the cases with malignant tumor, the basement membrane was thicker in width.
5) Thickness of the basement membrane had no relationship with the biopsy sites.