GRANULOVACULAR DEGENERATION                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          This hippocampal nerve cell, stained with hematoxylin-eosin, shows granulovacuolar degeneration (Fig. 11). The abnormality consists of variable numbers of basophilic granules ranging in diameter from one half to three microns. Each granule is contained within its  own vacuole (GV). This is an age-related progressive cellular pathology leading to death of the nerve cell.                                                                                                                                                     With progression of the pathologic process, the cell nucleus becomes involved (Fig. 12). Within the nucleus there is clumping of abnormal protein adjacent to the nuclear membrane closest to the granulovacuoles (arrow). There is loss of the normal intranuclear stainable substance (Woodard, 2002). It is noteworthy that the cell nucleus is always of normal appearance in pre-necrotic tangles except for a few instances when granulovacuoles are also present. This supports the view that the pre-necrotic tangles may actually be protective to the nerve cell.