- Gliosis
Gliosis is a proliferation of
astrocyte s in damaged areas of thecentral nervous system (CNS). This proliferation usually leads to the formation of aglial scar .Astrocytes are relatively large
glial cell s and have various functions, including accumulating in areas whereneuron s have been damaged. It is the most important histopathological sign of CNS injury. Astrocytes undergo both hypertrophy and hyperplasia. The nucleus enlarges and becomes vesicular and nucleolus becomes prominent. Previously scant cytoplasm expands and becomes bright pink and irregular from which arise numerous processes (gemistocytic astrocyte).Bergmann gliosis is associated with anoxic injury and is characterized by death of
Purkinje cells .Gliosis and neuronal loss in certain brain regions are findings seen in various
neurodegenerative disorder s such asAlzheimer's disease ,Korsakoff's syndrome ,multiple system atrophy ,prion disease ,multiple sclerosis (after an acute attack) andAIDS dementia complex . It can also be found in Parkinson's disease.
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