Biomaterial Database

Tactile-like structures in neurofibromas. An ultrastructural study. 1980

T W Smith, and J Bhawan

The light- and electron-microscopic features of four neurofibromas are described. In each case, whorled structures resembling tactile corpuscles were observed. Ultrastructurally, these lamellated formations were composed predominantly of perineurial cells, although many had a "central core" containing either a myelinated or unmyelinated axon, or several Schwann cells unassociated with axons. Our findings provide further evidence for the participation of perineurial cells as well as Schwann cells in the histogenesis of neurofibromas.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008465	Mechanoreceptors	Cells specialized to transduce mechanical stimuli and relay that information centrally in the nervous system. Mechanoreceptor cells include the INNER EAR hair cells, which mediate hearing and balance, and the various somatosensory receptors, often with non-neural accessory structures.	Golgi Tendon Organ,Golgi Tendon Organs,Krause's End Bulb,Krause's End Bulbs,Mechanoreceptor,Mechanoreceptor Cell,Meissner's Corpuscle,Neurotendinous Spindle,Neurotendinous Spindles,Receptors, Stretch,Ruffini's Corpuscle,Ruffini's Corpuscles,Stretch Receptor,Stretch Receptors,Mechanoreceptor Cells,Bulb, Krause's End,Bulbs, Krause's End,Cell, Mechanoreceptor,Cells, Mechanoreceptor,Corpuscle, Meissner's,Corpuscle, Ruffini's,Corpuscles, Ruffini's,End Bulb, Krause's,End Bulbs, Krause's,Krause End Bulb,Krause End Bulbs,Krauses End Bulb,Krauses End Bulbs,Meissner Corpuscle,Meissners Corpuscle,Organ, Golgi Tendon,Organs, Golgi Tendon,Receptor, Stretch,Ruffini Corpuscle,Ruffini Corpuscles,Ruffinis Corpuscle,Ruffinis Corpuscles,Spindle, Neurotendinous,Spindles, Neurotendinous,Tendon Organ, Golgi,Tendon Organs, Golgi
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009455	Neurofibroma	A moderately firm, benign, encapsulated tumor resulting from proliferation of SCHWANN CELLS and FIBROBLASTS that includes portions of nerve fibers. The tumors usually develop along peripheral or cranial nerves and are a central feature of NEUROFIBROMATOSIS 1, where they may occur intracranially or involve spinal roots. Pathologic features include fusiform enlargement of the involved nerve. Microscopic examination reveals a disorganized and loose cellular pattern with elongated nuclei intermixed with fibrous strands. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1016)	Neurofibromas
D009456	Neurofibromatosis 1	An autosomal dominant inherited disorder (with a high frequency of spontaneous mutations) that features developmental changes in the nervous system, muscles, bones, and skin, most notably in tissue derived from the embryonic NEURAL CREST. Multiple hyperpigmented skin lesions and subcutaneous tumors are the hallmark of this disease. Peripheral and central nervous system neoplasms occur frequently, especially OPTIC NERVE GLIOMA and NEUROFIBROSARCOMA. NF1 is caused by mutations which inactivate the NF1 gene (GENES, NEUROFIBROMATOSIS 1) on chromosome 17q. The incidence of learning disabilities is also elevated in this condition. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1014-18) There is overlap of clinical features with NOONAN SYNDROME in a syndrome called neurofibromatosis-Noonan syndrome. Both the PTPN11 and NF1 gene products are involved in the SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION pathway of Ras (RAS PROTEINS).	Peripheral Neurofibromatosis,Recklinghausen Disease of Nerve,von Recklinghausen Disease,Cafe-au-Lait Spots with Pulmonic Stenosis,Molluscum Fibrosum,NF1 (Neurofibromatosis 1),Neurofibromatosis I,Neurofibromatosis Type 1,Neurofibromatosis Type I,Neurofibromatosis, Peripheral Type,Neurofibromatosis, Peripheral, NF 1,Neurofibromatosis, Peripheral, NF1,Neurofibromatosis, Type 1,Neurofibromatosis, Type I,Pulmonic Stenosis with Cafe-au-Lait Spots,Recklinghausen Disease, Nerve,Recklinghausen's Disease of Nerve,Recklinghausens Disease of Nerve,Watson Syndrome,von Recklinghausen's Disease,Cafe au Lait Spots with Pulmonic Stenosis,Neurofibromatoses, Peripheral,Neurofibromatoses, Type I,Neurofibromatosis, Peripheral,Peripheral Neurofibromatoses,Pulmonic Stenosis with Cafe au Lait Spots,Syndrome, Watson,Type 1 Neurofibromatosis,Type 1, Neurofibromatosis,Type I Neurofibromatoses,Type I, Neurofibromatosis,von Recklinghausens Disease
D010524	Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms	Neoplasms which arise from peripheral nerve tissue. This includes NEUROFIBROMAS; SCHWANNOMAS; GRANULAR CELL TUMORS; and malignant peripheral NERVE SHEATH NEOPLASMS. (From DeVita Jr et al., Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 5th ed, pp1750-1)	Peripheral Nerve Neoplasms,Peripheral Nerve Neoplasms, Benign,Peripheral Nerve Neoplasms, Malignant,Peripheral Nerve Neoplastic Infiltration,Peripheral Nerve Tumors,Peripheral Nervous System Benign Neoplasms,Peripheral Nervous System Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasm, Peripheral Nerve,Neoplasms, Peripheral Nerve,Nerve Neoplasm, Peripheral,Nerve Neoplasms, Peripheral,Nerve Tumor, Peripheral,Nerve Tumors, Peripheral,Peripheral Nerve Neoplasm,Peripheral Nerve Tumor,Tumor, Peripheral Nerve,Tumors, Peripheral Nerve
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man