Ultrathin sections of nerves of tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy were examined in an electron microscope for changes in endoneural blood vessels. In the tuberculoid nerves, hypertrophy of endothelial cells was the most prominent feature. This was to such an extent that the lumen of blood vessel was often closed. Endoneural blood vessels showed multilayers separated by collagen and ground substances. In contrast, in the lepromatous nerves, there was no hypertrophy of endothelial cells in the blood vessels and the lumen of the vessels was open. M. leprae were seen within the endothelial cells and these organisms were intact and probably viable. These observations suggest a possible involvement of endoneural blood vessels which may contribute to nerve damage in leprosy.
BT - Nihon Rai Gakkai zasshi C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2642166?dopt=Abstract DA - 1989 Jul-Sep DO - 10.5025/hansen1977.58.179 IS - 3 J2 - Nihon Rai Gakkai Zasshi LA - eng N2 -Ultrathin sections of nerves of tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy were examined in an electron microscope for changes in endoneural blood vessels. In the tuberculoid nerves, hypertrophy of endothelial cells was the most prominent feature. This was to such an extent that the lumen of blood vessel was often closed. Endoneural blood vessels showed multilayers separated by collagen and ground substances. In contrast, in the lepromatous nerves, there was no hypertrophy of endothelial cells in the blood vessels and the lumen of the vessels was open. M. leprae were seen within the endothelial cells and these organisms were intact and probably viable. These observations suggest a possible involvement of endoneural blood vessels which may contribute to nerve damage in leprosy.
PY - 1989 SP - 179 EP - 84 T2 - Nihon Rai Gakkai zasshi TI - An ultrastructural study of blood vessels in peripheral nerves of leprosy patients: blood vessels in peripheral nerves. VL - 58 SN - 0386-3980 ER -