Cellular neuropathology

There are numerous reviews of the cellular neuropathology of autism (Bauman and Kemper, 1994, 2005 Kemper and Bauman, 1998 Bailey et al., 1998 Palman et al 2004 Casanova, 2007 Amaral et al., 2008). In this chapter I will discuss the relationship of the various pathologies to developmental events, a subject not covered in detail in these reviews. Emphasis will be placed on the timing and mechanisms of the known pathologies and their possible relationship to the well-documented abnormal pattern of brain growth seen in autistic individuals. 

The development of the neurofibrillary pathology is not random. It follows a stereotyped pattern with regard to affected nerve cell types, cellular layers and brain regions, with little inter-individual variation. This has been used to define six neuropathological stages of Alzheimer s disease [28]. The very first nerve cells in the brain to develop... 

The principal neuropathologic finding in HE is altered astrocyte morphology. The cellular characteristics of the astrocyte changes in HE are a direct function of the nature of the liver failure (acute vs. chronic, ie. Type A vs. Type C) as well as the severity of HE. 

---