Comparative lectinhistochemical studies on paraffin- and glycol methacrylate- embedded CNS tissue specimens from AIDS autopsies

Journal/Book: Zentralbl. Pathol. 138 (4), 272-277. 1992;

Abstract: Brain tissue and spinal cord tissue from 12 patients who had died ofAIDS was fixed in neutral formalin; then after the embedment of some ofit in paraffin and some of it in glycol methacrylate, it was analyzedlectinhistochemically with mistletoe lectin I (ML I). Mistletoe lectin(ML I) is a reliable marker for microglia cells and macrophages and forspecial cell forms (polynuclear giant cells, so-called pericytes)belonging to this cell system. In both the embedding procedures used,the representation of the cells is very clear and subtly differentiatedso that the preparations are very well suited to the study ofAIDS-associated tissue damage in the CNS. Whereas the immunologicalmacrophage markers (CD 68 markers) KPI, PG-M1 produce good results onparaffin-embedded material but are completely useless on materialembedded in glycol methacrylate, the cells of the monocyte-macrophagesystem can be represented very well and reliably after being embedded inglycol methacrylate with mistletoe lectin I (ML I). Author.

Keyword(s): ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME/CO (complications)

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