Polyglucosan Body Observed In Intramuscular Nerve and Aging

Abstract

Seven hundred and ninety muscle biopsies were examined for the incidence and the ultrastructure of the intraaxonal polyglucosan body in the intramuscular nerve fibers. The results were as follows:
1) Among the nerve fibers found in 86 muscles, polyglucosan body was positive in 8 muscles (9.3%).
2) Polyglucosan body was positive in the cases age above 54.
3) There was no distinct disease, such as diabetes mellitus, in the positive cases.
4) Polyglucosan body was observed in muscles which showed neurogenic or myogenic change.
5) In half of the nerve fibers, which showed polyglucosan bodies, demyelination and fibrosis were observed.
6) Polyglucosan body was PAS positive and showed fibrillar structure electron-microscopically, which is a characteristic feature of the corpora amylacea.
Therefore, this change is thought to be one of the nonspecific axonal degenerations appeared in the aged.