Renaut Bodies
1
Renaut bodies: Features
- Frequency
- 2% of nerve biopsies
- Increased age: Possibly more frequent
- Structure
- Shape: Round, Elliptical (Flattened) or Elongated (Along length of nerve)
- Internal: Whorled
- Contents
- Cell: Fibroblasts, often with long processes; "Spider-like" (cellules godronées)
- Other: Mucopolysaccharides; Collagen; Elastin
- Edge: May be bounded by fibroblast process
- Size: 20 to 130 μM
- Location
- General: At sites of nerve compression
- Intraneural: Endoneurial
- Often multiple: In several fascicles in nerve
- Usual: All in similar region of different fascicles
- Atypical: Confluent
- May be 1, or several, in individual fascicles
- Stains: Alcian blue; Gomori trichrome; ± EMA
- Associated vessels: May have thick wall
- Possible cause: Chronic nerve compression
Renaut Bodies: Typical
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautgtlp.jpg)
Gomori trichrome stain
|
Renaut Bodies
Rounded
Subperineurial
Present in several fascicles
All located in similar endoneurial regions
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautsmtblp.jpg)
Toluidine blue stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautvvgmp.jpg)
VvG stain
|
Renaut Bodies: Rounded; Filamentous layers
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/rbgt.jpg)
Gomori trichrome stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renauthehp2.jpg)
H&E stain
|
Renaut Bodies: Contain cells & Variably stained extracellular matrix
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renauthehp3.jpg)
H&E stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautgthp.jpg)
Gomori trichrome stain
|
Renaut Bodies: Contain cells & Variably stained extracellular matrix
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautgthp2.jpg)
Gomori trichrome stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautvvghp.jpg)
VvG stain
|
Renaut Body
Rounded
Filamentous layers
Rounded sub-structures
Cells, Scattered
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renauttbhp.jpg)
Toluidine blue stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautabmp.jpg)
Alcian blue stain
|
Renaut Bodies: Contain mucopolysaccharides (Alcian blue positive)
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautabhp.jpg)
Alcian blue stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautabhp2.jpg)
Alcian blue stain
|
Renaut Bodies: Confluent
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautlgtblp.jpg)
Toluidine blue stain
|
Renaut bodies, confluent
Multiple pale rounded regions
Probable area of chronic nerve damage
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautlgmp.jpg)
Toluidine blue stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renauttbhp3.jpg)
Toluidine blue stain
|
Renaut Body
Rounded
Filamentous layers: Variable structure
Rounded sub-structures
Cells, Scattered
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renauttbhp2.jpg)
Toluidine blue stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautlghp.jpg)
Toluidine blue stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautconfabmp.jpg)
Alcian blue stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautconfabhp.jpg)
Alcian blue stain
|
Renaut Bodies: Internal
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renauthelp.jpg)
H&E stain
|
Renaut Bodies: Internal
Within endoneurium
Shape: Irregular
Contain occasional axon
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautgtmp.jpg)
Gomori trichrome stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautcrmp.jpg)
Congo red stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautgthp3.jpg)
Gomori trichrome stain
|
Renaut Bodies: Internal
Within endoneurium
Shape: Irregular
Contain: Irregular extracellular material; Cells; Occasional axon
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautcrhp.jpg)
Congo red stain
|
Renaut Bodies: Contain mucopolysaccharides (Alcian blue positive)
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautintalbluemp.jpg)
Alcian blue stain
|
Renaut Bodies: Contain mucopolysaccharides (Alcian blue positive)
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/renaut/renautintalbluehp.jpg)
Alcian blue stain
|
Renaut body: Renaut illustration
Pacinian corpuscle: Epineurial
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/paccorp/pche.jpg)
H&E stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/paccorp/pcgt.jpg)
gomori Trichrome stain
|
![](../pics/biopsy/nerve/paccorp/pcvvg.jpg)
VvG stain
|
Return to
Neuromuscular Home Page
References
1.
Can J Neurol Sci 2017;44:184-189,
J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 1973;32:334-343
2.
Renaut J. Système hyalin de soutènement des centres nerveux et de quelques organes des sens. Arch Physiol Normale et Pathologique (Paris). 1881;8:846-59.
3/25/2017