Abstract
Reticulin stain and immunohistochemical stains (collagen types I to VI and laminin) were used to examine the bone marrow from hematologically normal autopsy cases (92 cases) and cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS ; 15 cases) . In the hematologically normal cases, reticulin fibers and collagen types III, V, and VI were increased in elderly age groups, regardless of sex and the number of megakaryocytes.
Results with reticulin stain were similar to those with collagen types III, V, and VI. However, in a few cases negative for reticulin stain, immunohistochemical stains (collagen types III, V, and VI) were positive. Collagen type N and laminin were positive in besement membranes of vessels. In patients with primary MDS (autopsy cases), bone marrow fibrosis was markedly increased compared with that in normal subjects of similar age. The treatment of MDS patients immunohistochemically for collagen types III, V, and VI remains problematic. Accordingly application of immunohistochemical stains for collagen to the bone marrow from biopsies and further investigation of myelof fibrosis are required.
