Changes in the cerebral cortex in temporal lobe epilepsy

: Biopsy specimens of the temporal cortex were taken from three patients suffering from temporal epilepsy of different origin. As a result of examining the specimens under optic and electron microscopes and subsequent morphometric processing of the data a picture of layer-by-layer changes in the cortex (field 21/38) was obtained. These changes consisted in appearance of the so-called dark cells, degenerating synaptic buds and myelin fibres, and increase of the percentage of astrocytes and proliferation of their processes. The data obtained suggest that in this disease there occurs a gradual destruction of neurocytes which leads to disturbances of the interneuronal relations.