Argyrophilic thread-like structure in corticobasal degeneration and supranuclear palsy.

Massive argyrophilic thread-like structures (ATS) are observed in corticobasal degeneration and, in varied degrees, in some cases of progressive supranuclear palsy. Immunohistochemically, ATS has a full length of phosphorylated tau epitopes without ubiquitin. Gallyas- and immuno-electron microscopic observation revealed that ATS is a cytoskeletal abnormality occurred in both the inner and outer loop of the oligodendroglia. tau-Positive oligodendroglial tangles were distributed in the same region as ATS.