Alimentary System

Esophagus - Amyloid

Narrative
Comment:
Amyloidosis is a systemic disease that is rare in B6C3F1 mice, BALB/c and C3H mice but common in CD-1, A, Swiss Webster, SJL, and B6 mice and can be a cause of death. The incidence can be increased in association with fighting among group-housed males and with ectoparasitism. Amyloid appears as an amorphous, eosinophilic, hyaline, extracellular substance (Figure 1, arrow) that, with progressive accumulation, results in pressure atrophy of adjacent cells and tissue. Special stains such as Congo red can be used to confirm that the material is amyloid. Congo red stains amyloid orange to orange red and under polarized light imparts a characteristic light green birefringence that is often referred to as apple green. In the esophagus and small intestine, the disease appears to begin as a deposition of amyloid in the submucosa. In systemic amyloidosis, if amyloid is found in the esophagus, it is also likely to be found in spleen, liver, kidney, tongue, small intestine, and mesenteric lymph node. Amyloid deposits in the glomeruli of the kidney are usually the cause of death in animals that die with amyloidosis.
Recommendations:
Whenever present, amyloid deposits should be diagnosed as "amyloid" and graded based on the extent of the amyloid deposits.
References:

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Abstract: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272059084711067

Engelhardt JA, Gries CL, Long GG. 1993. Incidence of spontaneous neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions in Charles River CD-1 mice varies with the breeding origin. Toxicol Pathol 21:538-541.

Full Text: http://tpx.sagepub.com/content/21/6/538.full.pdf

Frith CH, Chandra M. 1991. Incidence, distribution, and morphology of amyloidosis in Charles Rivers CD-1 mice. Toxicol Pathol 19:123-127.

Full Text: http://tpx.sagepub.com/content/19/2/123.full.pdf

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Abstract: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9780444527714

Myers RK, McGavin MD. 2007. Cellular and tissue responses to injury. In: Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease, 4th ed (McGavin MD, Zachary JF, eds). Mosby, St Louis, MO, 3-62.

Percy DH, Barthold SW. 2001. Mouse. In: Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits, 2nd ed. Iowa State Press, Ames, 3-106.

Ward JM, Mann PC, Morishima H, Frith CH. 1999. Thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes. In: Pathology of the Mouse (Maronpot RR, ed). Cache River Press, St Louis, MO, 333-456.

Abstract: http://www.cacheriverpress.com/books/pathmouse.htm
  • Image of amyloid in the esophagus from a male Swiss Webster mouse in a chronic study

    Esophagus - Amyloid in a male Swiss Webster mouse from a chronic study. There is a cellular, eosinophilic material (amyloid) in the submucosa of the esophagus (arrow).

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<p>Esophagus - Amyloid in a male Swiss Webster mouse from a chronic study. There is a cellular, eosinophilic material (amyloid) in the submucosa of the esophagus (arrow).</p>

Esophagus - Amyloid in a male Swiss Webster mouse from a chronic study. There is a cellular, eosinophilic material (amyloid) in the submucosa of the esophagus (arrow).

Authors:

Linda H. Kooistra, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Pathologist
Charles River Laboratories, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, NC

Abraham Nyska, DVM, Diplomate ECVP, Fellow IATP
Expert in Toxicologic Pathology
Visiting Full Professor of Pathology
Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University Timrat Israel

Reviewers:

Joel R. Leininger, DVM, PhD
Senior Pathologist
MedImmune
Washington, DC

Amy Brix, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Senior Pathologist
Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc.
Research Triangle Park, NC