Coiled bodies are found in many neurodegenerative diseases, including PSP, CBD, some of the FTDP-17s, and sporadic cases of “lobar atrophy” (frontotemporal dementia). They are found predominantly in white matter, where they appear as comma- or “6”-shaped structures. They consist of tau filaments wrapping around the nucleus and extending into one (sometimes two) of the processes of an oligodendrocyte. Three coiled bodies are shown below from the frontal cortex of a case of undifferentiated lobar atrophy. Staining was with the Tau-2 antibody.

Reference: Braak and Braak, 1989