| Popis: |
Background: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial genetic disorder characterized by bilateral central visual loss typically in early adulthood. Few histopathologic studies, including ultrastructural and molecular genetic analysis, have been reported. Methods: Ocular tissue was obtained postmortem from an 81-year-old woman with LHON from the Queensland 1 pedigree characterized by mutations at nucleotide positions 4160 and 14484. Routine histopathologic studies, electron microscopy, electron-probe analysis, and molecular genetic analysis were performed. Results: Marked atrophy of the nerve fiber and retinal ganglion cell layers and optic nerves was present. Results of electron microscopic examination demonstrated 1.2 µm electron-dense, double-membrane-bound inclusions, consisting of calcium by electronprobe analysis, in retinal ganglion cells. The optic nerve was homoplasmic for mutations 4160 and 14484. Conclusion: Optic nerve and inner retinal atrophy in LHON may be a result of metabolic mitochondrial dysfunction leading to intramitochondrial calcification. Homoplasmy for mitochondrial mutations 4160 and 14484 in the leukocyte/platelet fraction of whole blood may correlate with homoplasmy in the optic nerve. |
