Herdförmige symmetrische Hirngewebsnekrosen bei Hunden mit epileptiformen Krämpfen

Abstract

The histologic changes in the CNS of 10 dogs with epileptiform cramps and psychic alterations are described. Most of the animals had gastroenteritis of apparently diverse aetiology prior to the onset of the nervous signs. The lesions are characterized by bilaterally symmetrical focal necroses in the grey matter. Oedema and proliferation of blood vessels were present to varying extents in individual cases. What is conspicuous is not only the symmetrical localization of the lesions but also the invatiable damage of the rhinencephalon in the broad sense. There was no significant increase of oligo- or astroglia. In almost all cases Ammon's horn and the piriform lobe were simultaneously affected. In addition the olfactory bulbs, septum pellucidum, dorsomedian cortex, and now and then also the lateral cortical layers and basal ganglia might show accompanying lesions. The remaining brain stem and the cerebellum remained almost entirely spared. The aetiology of the lesions described is undetermined. Exogenous intoxication does not appear likely although it cannot be excluded with certainty. The clinical and histologic findings rather suggest the action of diverse pathogenetic factors. These lead to morphologically similar alterations, which may be a consequence of a deficient provision of the brain tissue with oxygen or with nutrient substances.