[Morphology of diabetic neuropathy]. / Morphologie der diabetischen Neuropathie.

The morphological findings in peripheral nerves in diabetic subjects are reviewed. Diabetes is probably the most frequent cause of neuropathy. However it does not constitute a single nosological entity but is comprised of a variety of clinical and morphological changes. These are considered to be the consequences of metabolic derangements resulting from chronic hyperglycemia. Distal symmetrical neuropathies, which are most common, are characterized by axonal degeneration and segmental demyelination with loss of nerve fibres and fibrosis. Remyelination and axonal sprouting occur. Microvascular changes consist of thickening and hyalinization of the walls of the vessels. On electron microscopy these vessels appear thickened and show reduplication of the basal lamina that surrounds the endothelial cells and pericytes. The morphological bases of proximal symmetrical motor neuropathy, as well as of focal and multifocal neuropathies are briefly described. The synopsis of current knowledge can be helpful in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of disorders of the peripheral nervous system.

[Electron microscopic findings in the livers of long-term survivors among child tumor patients after polychemotherapy]. / Elektronenmikroskopische Leberbefunde bei langzeitüberlebenden Tumorpatienten im Kindesalter nach Polychemotherapie.

In 14 children which were treated by combined antineoplastic chemotherapy a postexamination was performed after a mean survival time of 5 years and a post-treatment-interval of two and a half years. In this study also liver biopsies were examined by electron microscopy. Ultrastructural changes of the hepatocytes must be explained as a progressive metabolic efficiency of these cells. There was no direction for a chronic damage of the liver parenchyma induced by the therapy.

[Ultrastructure of rabbit myocardium in experimental histamine shock]. / Elektronenmikroskopische Veränderungen am Kaninchenmyokard beim experimentellen Histaminschock.

The ultrastructure of rabbit myocardium was studied after experimental histamine release by Polymyxin-B-sulphate. As soon as 15 minutes after the histamine release mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum showed alterations with appearance of lysosomes and partial destruction of contractile structures. The sarcolemm formed blistered protrusions with simultaneously expelled cytoplasmic elements. Whereas intramural vessels were inconspicuous, the pericapillar spaces showed a considerable enlargement. On the basis of these findings, we suppose that the changes were induced on the one hand by the increase of the permeability of capillaries produced by histamine and, on the other one, by local and general ischemia as a consequence of shock.