Parenchymatous protein degradations

Question 1

4 types of parenchymatous dystrophies

Answer 1

Granular
Hyalin-drop
Vacuolar
Keratin

Question 2

Most frequent and least severe parenchymatous protein degeneration

Answer 2

Granular

Question 3

Only parenchymatous protein degeneration that is reversible

Answer 3

Granular

Question 4

What causes granular protein degeneration?

Answer 4

intoxications, some infections, disturbance in blood and lymph circulations

Question 5

Common organs in granular protein degeneration

Answer 5

parenchymatous organs: kidney, liver, cardiac muscle

Question 6

What can you see in the cells in case of granular degeneration?

Answer 6

Granules in cytosol –> cloudy cytoplasm, nucleus becomes less visible

Cells expand

Question 7

What can you see in the organ in case of granular degeneration?

Answer 7

Organ swells and becomes enlarged, brittle, lighter, and irregularly coloured

Organ’s function is reduced/changes

Question 8

What causes hyalin-drop degeneration?

Answer 8

intoxications and some infectious diseases

Question 9

Which organs are affected by hyalin-drop degeneration?

Answer 9

Mostly affects kidneys, sometimes liver but more rarely

Question 10

How does hyalin-drop affect the cells?

Answer 10

You can see hyaline protein drops in the cytoplasm. The drops will fill the cytoplasm entirely which destroys the cells ultrastructure.

Question 11

How do hyalin drops look like?

Answer 11

They are semi-transparent and homogenous drops of various sizes but mostly on the larger side.

Question 12

What can you see in the organ is case of hyalin drop degeneration?

Answer 12

Nothing. Microscopy is required to diagnose. Causes deficiencies in functioning of the organ.

Question 13

Is hyalin-drop degeneration irreversible?

Answer 13

Yes it is and thus will develop into necrosis

Question 14

What causes hydropic/vacuolar degeneration?

Answer 14

protein-water-electrolyte imbalance, infectious diseases (like foot and mouth disease), edema, deficiencies (protein, salts, vitamins), chronic intoxications and cachexia (caused e.g. by chronic gastroenteritis or colitis)

Question 15

What can you see in the cell in case of hydropic/vacuolar degeneration?

Answer 15

Vacuoles filled with fluid in the cytoplasm or more rarely in the nucleus

Question 16

Which tissues can be affected by hydropic/vacuolar degeneration?

Answer 16

Epithelial tissue of skin and mucosa, epithelial cells of renal tubules, liver cells, muscle cells, neurons, cells of adrenal cortex

Question 17

What can you see in the tissues in case of hydropic/vacuolar degeneration?

Answer 17

Little external changes except swelling, diagnosis only by histological examination

Question 18

Is hydropic/vacuolar degeneration irreversible?

Answer 18

Usually yes but cell regeneration is possible early on. Most cells will die due to damage to the cytoplasm and nucleus.

Question 19

What happens in keratinous degeneration?

Answer 19

Either the “normal” keratinising epithelium develops excessive keratin (hyperkeratosis) or keratin appears in locations where is shouldn’t be (like mucosa)

Question 20

What causes keratinous degeneration?

Answer 20

metabolic diseases and deficiencies (protein zinc, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin A), infectious and parasitic diseases (scabies) that cause skin inflammation, chemical substances and physical factors that irritate skin and mucosa

Question 21

Describe hyperkeratosis and where it happens

Answer 21

Hypertrophy either on the cornea of the eye or the horny layer of the skin –> skin becomes false elastic, rough, tough, and forms dry calluses

Cutaneus horn is a specific form of hyperkeratosis where horn-like keratotic growths protrude from the skin