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The composition of the neurofilament proteins (NFPs) in neuronal perikarya was examined by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis of isolated perikarya of bovine spinal motor neurons. The extent of phosphorylation of the high molecular weight subunit of NFP (NFP-H) was compared between motor and sensory neuronal perikarya in spinal cord and spinal ganglion by immunocytochemistry with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to NFP. Of the 23 MAbs used in this study, one MAb (82E10) was specific to the highly phosphorylated component of NFP-H examined by 2-D immunoblot whereas another MAb (3A8) was specific to NFP-H irrespective of its level of phosphorylation. Immunocytochemically, 82E10 did not stain the perikarya of bovine and rabbit spinal motor neurons but 3A8 stained the perikarya in both animal species. These findings are consistent with 2-D immunoblot of neuronal perikarya of bovine motor neurons isolated in bulk. As for the spinal ganglia, 82E10 stained many, but not all, perikarya of sensory neurons of both animal species. These results indicate that the extent of phosphorylation of NFP-H in the perikarya of most spinal ganglion cells is higher than that of motor neurons. These findings suggest that the rate of phosphorylation of NFP-H in perikarya or the axonal transport of NFP from perikarya to proximal axons is uniform in spinal motor neurons but variable in spinal ganglion cells.

ISHIDA, A., TAKADA, G., KOBAYASHI, Y., TOYOSHIMA, I. and TAKAI, K. Effect of Tetrahydrobiopterin and 5-Hydroxytryptophan on Hereditary Progressive Dystonia with Marked Diurnal Fluctuation: A Suggestion of the Serotonergic System Involvement. Tohoku J. exp. Med., 1988, 154 (3), 233-239-A daughter and her mother developed hereditary progressive dystonia with marked diurnal fluctuation (HPD) at the age of 4 and 34, respectively. L-Dopa, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) or 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) was orally administered to them. L-Dopa cured completely their symptoms. 5-HTP as well as BH4 improved their symptoms, especially dystonic movements. Biopterin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations in CSF increased during BH4 medication. These findings suggest that the serotonergic system of the central nervous system might play some role in the pathogenesis of dystonia in HPD.

Lysosomal and plasma membrane sialidase activities in lymphocytes were studied in four patients with sialidosis with partial beta-galactosidase deficiency, four obligate heterozygotes, and three siblings of a patient. Lysosomal sialidase activity in homozygotes was absent, and that in heterozygotes was significantly decreased to 70% of control level. The results indicate that carriers can be detected by the assay of lysosomal sialidase activity of lymphocytes.

We report a 58 year-old man with various neurological symptoms as parkinsonism, autonomic dysfunction, mental deterioration and lower motor neuron involvement associated with IgM gammopathy whose serum showed antibody activities to human brain proteins. His serum reacted with 156kDa protein from substantia nigra and IBOkDa of cerebral cortical grey matter, cerebellar cortex, putamen, thalamus or pallidum by immunoblotting method. The serum of this patient reacted with proteins widely distributed in the central nervous system, and this antibody in his serum might be the cause of his various neurological symptoms.