Cellular cortical clusters in the temporal lobe in complex partial seizures

P. Gil Del Real, D. Armstrong, R. Simkins, G. Reuig, E. Mizrahi, J. Winikates, R. Grossman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The temporal lobes resected in patients for treatment of intractable complex partial seizures usually reveal one of two abnormalities in the medial portion on the lobe: Ammon's horn sclerosis or ganglioglioina. The other regions of the resected temporal lobe also contain morphologic alterations, which have been collectively referred to as microdysgenesis. These include neurons in the white matter, heterotopic gray matter, increased cellularity of the molecular layer, increased size of glial nuclei, and cellular clusters in the gray and white matter. In this study the cortices of the middle temporal gyrus and the parahippocampal gyrus are examined quantitatively for neuronal and glial clusters and compared with similar regions of nonepileptic brains. Temporal lobes of 30 cases with intractable complex partial seizures, 20 cases with Ammon's horn sclerosis, and 10 with gangliogliomas were examined. Controls consisted of 30 adult and pediatric brains obtained at autopsy from nonepileptic subjects. Histologie sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and a column of cortex was studied at 40x magnification, examining contiguous fields from meninges to white matter. A cluster was defined as two or more cells of the same type in direct contact with each other. Neuronal and glial clusters were observed. Glial clusters in the proximity of the blood vessels or neurons were quantitated separately. Neuronal clusters were found in increased numbers in the brains with intractable complex partial seizures compared to the adult controls. The brains with Ammon's horn sclerosis contained more clusters than the brains with gangliogliomas. The significance of these observations in relationship to the pathogenesis of Ammon's horn sclerosis gangliogliomas and to seizurogenesis requires consideration.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)357
Number of pages1
JournalPediatric Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Volume16
Issue number2
StatePublished - 1996

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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