Fig. 1.

Some characteristics of the chronic MS lesions in the collection. A, B, Variable numbers of neurofilament (NF)-positive axons (A) that were surrounded by MBP-positive myelin segments (arrowheads) (B) were observed in the center of three of the chronic lesions. Detail of lesion R, subject 97-006. C, Numerous GalC-positive oligodendrocytes lacking processes were present in four of the chronic MS lesions analyzed. Such rounded oligodendrocytes were also present in the borders of the lesions with an oligodendrocyte-free center. Detail of lesion H, subject 96-040. D, Many of the chronic MS lesions contained debris-laden macrophages, which were easily identifiable when sections were examined under phase-contrast optics; this semi-phase contrast image was generated using a confocal scanning laser microscope. Detail of lesion Q, subject 96-121. Scale bars:B, C, D, 10 μm.