AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF NEUROFILAMENT PROTEIN AND NEURON-SPECIFIC ENOLASE IN THE NORMAL HUMAN BRAIN AND IN TUMORS

Abstract

By using the PAP method (Sternberger) the cellular distribution of neurofilament protein (NFP. -200K, 160K, 68K-) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was studied in normal human brain and in human neuronal and nonneuronal neoplasms.In normal adult brain nerve cells and their fibers were generally immunoreactive with antisera against the three NF component proteins. The dendrites of pyramidal cells in the cerebral cortex, however, were not stained by 200K antibody. Some fibers in the brains of stillborn infants were similarly unstained by 200K antibody. NSE was present in neurons and their processes in both adult and prenatal brains.Ganglion cells and maturing neuroblastic cells constituting intracranial and extracranial neuronal tumors stained positively for NFP and NSE. 68K and 160K components were often detected in immature neuroblasts. Among 10 medulloblastomas examined, 3 were focally stained positively for 68K and 160K NFP while 5 showed immunoreactivity for NSE.Both NFP and NSE were detected in some of the non-neuronal neoplasms. These tumors included small cell carcinoma of the lung and rhabdomyosarcomas. Astrocytic tumors were also shown to be positive for NSE. Immunohistochemical demonstration of NFP and NSE in undifferentiated tumors, therefore, seems to be of limited value as evidence of neuronal differentiation.