Supplementary data on virus-like particles in the brainstem of Parkinson's disease patients and controls.

In this study, we present 77 transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of human brainstem tissue from 11 cases of late onset Parkinson's disease (PD). The tissues were fixed, embedded, sectioned, and stained for TEM application. In addition, we present 11 images from autopsy specimens of 1 case of human poliomyelitis infection as positive controls and 12 images from 8 cases of autopsy specimens of other conditions as negative controls.

Virus-like particles and enterovirus antigen found in the brainstem neurons of Parkinson's disease.

In a previous study on encephalitis lethargica, we identified a virus related to enterovirus in autopsy brain material. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular analysis were employed.  Our present objective was to investigate, using a similar approach, as to whether virus-like particles (VLP) and enterovirus antigen are present in Parkinson's disease (PD) brainstem neurons.

Evidence for an enterovirus as the cause of encephalitis lethargica.

Background: The epidemic of encephalitis lethargica (EL), called classical EL, was rampant throughout the world during 1917-1926, affecting half a million persons. The acute phase was lethal for many victims. Post-encephalitic parkinsonism (PEP) affected patients for decades.

Immunogold electron microscopy recognizes prion protein-associated particles prepared from scrapie-infected mouse brain.

Previous studies have proposed that the disease isoform of prion protein (PrPSc) is particulate. Our purpose was to search by electron microscopy (EM) for particles in fractions of density gradients prepared from differentially centrifuged homogenates of scrapie-infected, normal, and null mouse brain. Only mild detergents were used during the separation process.

Mitochondrial ultracondensation, but not swelling, is involved in TNF alpha-induced apoptosis in human T-lymphoblastic leukaemic cells.

Mitochondrial permeability transition (PT) pore opening and mitochondrial swelling have been reported in association with apoptosis. Conformational alterations of mitochondria induced by tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), and the association with TNF alpha-induced apoptosis, were, therefore, studied in the human acute T-lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) cell line, CCRF-CEM and its vinblastine-resistant CEM/VLB100 cell line by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The CEM/VLB100 cell line possessed more condensed (C phase) mitochondria in the resting state compared with its parental cell line, consistent with increased activity of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC).