Hirano body

Hirano bodies are intracellular aggregates of actin and actin-associated proteins observed in the neurons (nerve cells) of individuals afflicted with certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. They are often described as rod-shaped, crystal-like, and eosinophilic (pink after staining with haematoxylin and eosin). They are frequently seen in hippocampal pyramidal cells. An experimental model of Hirano body formation has been reported, using a genetically altered strain of the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum.