Basophilic inclusions in sporadic juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an immunocytochemical and ultrastructural study

This report concerns immunocytochemical and ultrastructural studies on the basophilic inclusions in two cases of sporadic juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The inclusion had a globular, irregularshaped, or sometimes fragmented appearance. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions consisted mainly of thick filamentous structures associated with granules. Focal neurofilamentous accumulations were occasionally observed among the granulofilamentous structures. The basophilic inclusions occasionally showed granular reaction product deposits with an antibody to ubiquitin. The inclusions did not react with antibodies to phosphorylated neurofilament and to tau protein.