DEPOSITS OF FLUORESCENT ACID-FAST PRODUCTS IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND SKELETAL MUSCLES OF ADULT RATS WITH CHRONIC VITAMIN-E DEFICIENCY

Abstract

The occurrence of these deposits generally confirms earlier observations, but nerve cell changes and acid fast deposits are more widely distributed in the nervous system than previously thought. There is degeneration of dorsal roots and posterior funiculi of the cord. Early myogenic changes are followed by nerve cell changes and then neurogenic muscular atrophy. The changes are characteristic of lipoid products since they stain with fat stains, are relatively insoluble in lipoid solvents, have affinity for basic aniline dyes, etc. The fluorescent acid fast products occur almost all through the nervous system and are both inside and outside muscle fibers. Ribonucleic acid in nerve cell cytoplasm decreases and finally completely disappears.