Ultrastructural alterations of the vestibular nuclei in Jacob-Creutzfeld disease.

The morphological alterations of the vestibular nuclei in a case of Jacob-Creutzfeld disease were studied with light and electron microscope. The most prominent histological findings were the neuronal degeneration and neuronal loss resulting in a marked decrease of the total population, the increased reactive astrocytosis which demonstrated an extensive perivascular arrangement, the microgliosis and the interstitial spongiosis. At the ultrastructural level a marked dilatation of the astrocytic processes was seen.