Calcium, calmodulin and 3',5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in human muscular disorders

3',5'-Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) is known to play an important role in the regulation of cyclic nucleotide levels in various tissues including the muscle. Previous studies have estimated the level of this enzyme in several neuromuscular disorders but the results have been variable. Moreover, there was no attempt made to correlate the enzyme levels with the levels of calcium and calmodulin, both of which regulate diverse biological processes including muscle contraction. In the present study we have estimated phosphodiesterase in the muscle of normal controls as well as patients with myotonic (MyD) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). PDE was found to be increased significantly in all of the diseased muscles as compared to controls (P less than 0.01). But the increase could be coupled with an increase in calcium and calmodulin only in Duchenne dystrophic muscle.

Thiamin mono- and pyrophosphatase activities from brain homogenate of Guamanian amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and parkinsonism-dementia patients

Thiamin-pyrophosphatase (TPPase) and thiamin-monophosphatase (TMPase) were determined using a spectrophotometric method at various pH values (5.5, 7.5, and 9.0) in brain tissue obtained at autopsy from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and parkinsonism-dementia (PD) patients from Guam and from Guamanian patients who died from other diseases (controls). TPPase separation by thin-layer polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing (IEF) was also performed using both gray and white matter. TPPase content, chemically determined at pH 9.0, was found to be significantly reduced in the frontal cortex of ALS and PD patients compared to controls. TMPase content, on the contrary, was unchanged. IEF analysis showed 9 clear-cut bands with TPPase activity in the pH range 5.4-7.2 and a broad band at pH 4.7-5.2. The enzymatic activity was higher in gray than in white matter. In one patient the pattern was clearly different, with two additional bands observed at pH 7.1 and 6.7, and thought to be due to genetic microheterogeneity.

Sensory nerve pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

A detailed morphometric study was performed on sural nerve biopsies to determine the consistency of sensory nerve pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to seek a correlation between the severity of peripheral nerve pathology and disease duration. Nerve biopsies from patients with ALS consistently showed evidence of early axonal atrophy, increased remyelination and a shift in the diameter distributions curve towards smaller fiber diameters. Importantly, the severity of sensory nerve pathology in ALS patients correlated with disease duration. The peripheral nerve sodium pump concentration of patients was not reduced. It is concluded that an ingravescent dorsal root ganglion neuronopathy is seen in the incipient stages of ALS, preferentially affecting the largest neurons and resulting in turn in progressive axonal atrophy, secondary demyelination-remyelination and finally in nerve fiber degeneration. Etiologically, a parallel involvement of motor and sensory neurons suggests a more widespread metabolic disturbance in ALS than simply "sick" motor neurons.

Determination of superoxide dismutase activity by the polarographic method of catalytic currents in the cerebrospinal fluid of aging brain and neurologic degenerative diseases

The activity of the superoxide dismutase was measured by the polarographic method of catalytic currents in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with age-related neurologic degenerative diseases, namely, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease, and of a reference group of normal subjects. The superoxide dismutase activity was found to increase with age in reference subjects (r = 0.81) while no significant correlation was found in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease patients. The activity mean values were significantly lower (P less than 0.01) in patients with neurologic degenerative diseases than in the reference subjects. The changes of superoxide dismutase activity in the aging brain and in age-related neurologic degenerative diseases are discussed.

[The excessive activity of cytochrome P450 system in ALS--the metabolic ratio of sparteine]

The activity of cytochrome P450 family was studied in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in an attempt to evaluate the susceptibility to environmental substances including possible some neurotoxin. The metabolic ratio (MR) of sparteine sulfate was measured in 30 patients with ALS and 41 controls for the evaluation of the sparteine nitro (N)-oxidation with cytochrome P450 system. The population of phenotypes designed as extensive metabolisers (EMs), intermediate metabolisers (IMs), and poor metabolisers (PMs) for sparteine nitro (N)-oxidation was determined in each group. The lower MR (p less than 0.02) and higher frequency of EMs (p less than 0.05) were observed in ALS group, suggesting the excessive activity of N-oxidation with cytochrome P450 pathway in the ALS group. Especially in 15 patients with ALS age before 60, these tendencies were more remarkable with a significant lower MR (p less than 0.01) and extremely high frequency of EMs (p less than 0.005). The present study might suggest the possible participation of cytochrome P450 pathway in the development of ALS.

Lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity in muscle and erythrocytes in adult muscular dystrophies and neurogenic atrophies

Lipid peroxidation (LP) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were determined in erythrocytes and skeletal muscle obtained from patients with limb-girdle and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophies, neurogenic atrophies and from age-matched control subjects. Neither lipid peroxidation nor SOD activity in erythrocytes of patients differed from control values. SOD activity and LP in muscle specimens were also normal in types of neurogenic atrophy. Lipid peroxidation in the muscle from patients with adult types of muscular dystrophy had a tendency to be increased. The values were widely scattered, the highest being obtained in the older patients with long duration of disease.

Choline acetyltransferase activities in single spinal motor neurons from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Activities of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) were microassayed in individual cell bodies of motor neurons, isolated from freeze-dried sections after autopsy of lumbar spinal cords from four patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and four control patients with nonneurological diseases. Numerous large neurons were found in the anterior horn at the early degeneration stage of ALS, but the cell bodies atrophied and decreased in number at the late advanced stage. The small, atrophied neurons were very fragile and were easily destroyed during the isolation procedure with a microknife. The average activity, expressed on a dry weight basis, of 58 ALS neurons was lower than that of 67 control neurons. The large, well-preserved neurons at the early nonadvanced stage had markedly lower ChAT activities than control neurons. The specific activity gradually increased with the progress of atrophy but did not return to the control level.

Abnormal glutamate metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Glutamate levels were determined in the fasting plasma of 22 patients with early-stage primary amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and compared to those of healthy and diseased controls. There was a significant increase (by approximately 100%, p less than 0.0005) in the plasma glutamate of the ALS patients as compared with the controls. Oral glutamate loading (60 mg of monosodium glutamate per kilogram of body weight, taken orally after overnight fasting) resulted in significantly greater elevations in the plasma glutamate and aspartate levels in the ALS patients than in the controls. Glutamate, a potentially neuroexcitotoxic compound, is thought to be the transmitter of the corticospinal tracts and certain spinal cord interneurons. A systemic defect in the metabolism of this amino acid may underlie primary ALS.

Lactic dehydrogenase activities in single motoneurons in relation to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Histograms of LDH activity in anterior horn cells (AHCs) of rabbit, cat, monkey and man cannot be as clearly divided into 2 groups as can muscle fibers. However, on the basis of the difference in LDH activities between oculomotoneurons and AHCs, and between immature and mature feline AHCs, motoneurons can be divided functionally into 2 groups. From LDH activities of single motoneurons and muscle fibers and those of the remaining AHCs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) determined in this study, it may be assumed that the motoneurons in the high LDH activity group--a high activity being an immature quality--may be resistant to ALS.

Neutral protease in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases

Neutral protease activity was significantly elevated in the cerebro-spinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in exacerbation and in the acute phase of acute viral meningoencephalitis (AME) compared with that of MS in remission, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or psychosomatic disease. Since in each relapse of MS, protease activity was higher in exacerbation than in remission, this activity may be one good marker of disease activity in MS. One hundred micro molar of FOY305, synthetic protease inhibitor, inhibited in vitro increased neutral protease activity in MS in exacerbation, which suggests the possibility of a clinical application of this protease inhibitor for MS.

Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurodegenerative diseases involving cholinergic systems

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) were assayed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of subjects with neurodegenerative diseases (dementing and non-dementing, with and without known cholinergic lesions), to determine whether CSF AChE is a valid marker of central cholinergic activity. The relative proportions of the different forms of each enzyme and of AChE to BChE were similar in CSF and brain. AChE decreased in Huntington's chorea (degeneration of striatal cholinergic interneurons) but also in multiple sclerosis (not known to affect cholinergic systems). BChE paralleled AChE, although the enzymes were dissociated in some patients. It is concluded that CSF AChE activity may globally reflect brain AChE, but pathology-induced changes may not be directly reflected.

Klüver-Bucy syndrome and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a case report with biochemistry, morphometrics, and Golgi study

We studied a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the Klüver-Bucy syndrome. At autopsy there was extensive degeneration of the limbic system with the brunt of the changes in the medial temporal lobe, especially the entorhinal cortex and subiculum. Degenerative changes were also seen in the substantia nigra and lower motor neurons. Morphometric and biochemical studies implied a disease process that affected small, possibly somatostatinergic, cortical neurons. These latter findings and the lobar distribution of cortical atrophy were consistent with Pick's disease, but Pick bodies and ballooned neurons were not present.

Skeletal muscle acetylcholinesterase molecular forms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) molecular forms in muscle biopsies from control and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients were extracted under low (G: globular forms) and high (A: asymmetric forms) ionic strength conditions and were evaluated by velocity sedimentation analysis. Total AChE activity in endplate-containing ALS muscle sections was reduced by an average of 65% of control muscle levels. This decrement resulted from an almost complete disappearance of 9.5S (G4) and 8.0S (A4) AChE and significant decreases in the 3.8S (G1), 12.1S (A8), and 15.8S (A12) forms (66%, 9%, and 25% of control, respectively). In most of the ALS biopsies examined, ultrastructural-cytochemical analysis revealed large reductions in AChE reaction product of both synaptic infoldings (extracellular) and sarcoplasmic reticulum (intracellular) of the muscles' motor endplate regions. These data are compatible with the view that alterations observed in AChE forms from ALS muscles are related to disturbances in the normal "trophic" interactions between nerve and muscle.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: relationship between serum creatine kinase level and patient survival

Various laboratory tests have been used to predict the survival of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The serum creatine kinase (CK) level is frequently elevated in patients with ALS. This study evaluates the relationship between serum CK elevation and survival in patients with ALS and points to a lack of correlation. Thirty patients with ALS, who ranged in age from 21 to 73 years, were followed up from 7 to 57 months. All patients had neurologic and psychiatric evaluations, electromyographic examinations, and serum CK measurements. The CK level was elevated in 50% of the patients. On follow-up, 20 patients had died; ten of these had had elevated CK levels. The 3-year survival from the date of the examination was 47% for patients with elevated CK levels and 40% for patients with normal levels. This difference did not have statistical significance (p greater than 0.43).

Collagenase activity in skin fibroblasts of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

In the current study we have measured collagenase activity released from skin explants and fibroblasts of patients with both Guam-type and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and controls. The rationale for such a study derives from work reported more than 20 years ago demonstrating abnormalities in skin collagen metabolism in patients with the disease. We were not able to find significant differences in collagenase activity when fibroblasts were compared relative to the total protein secreted. This is explained, in part, by our finding of an increase in total protein released from fibroblasts of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient group. Increased collagenase release did occur when activity was expressed per number of cells plated but was not statistically significant. In addition, increased release followed a 3-day lag period in skin organ culture. These results suggest that collagenase and other enzymes known to activate collagenase, such as plasminogen activator, capable of degrading extracellular matrix components might be responsible for the increased collagenolytic activity previously observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients' skin. Further evaluation of extracellular-acting degradative enzymes from skin, muscle, nerve and central nervous system may be important to follow-up such leads in understanding the pathogenesis of this enigmatic and fatal disorder.

Enzymatic analysis of individual posterior root ganglion cells in olivopontocerebellar atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Four enzyme activities related to glucose metabolism, i.e. those of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH; EC 1.1.1.49), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH; EC 1.1.1.27), pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) and citrate synthase (CS; EC 4.1.3.7) were estimated in posterior root ganglion cells (PRGCs) of the spinal cord in patients suffering from olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) by means of the NAD, NADP and CoA cycling methods. In ALS and DMD, the enzyme activities examined were within normal ranges. In OPCA, PDC activity was significantly reduced and LDH activity tended to be lower than that in controls.

Acetylcholinesterase and ATPases in motor neuron degenerative diseases

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was measured in the presence of the specific inhibitor of pseudocholinesterase, iso-OMPA, in plasma from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progressive muscular atrophy (PMA), neuromuscular disease controls, and normal controls. Both AChE and Na-K ATPase activities were measured in erythrocyte ghost membranes from ALS and normal controls. Activities of erythrocyte ghost AChE and Na-K ATPase did not differ between ALS and control patients, suggesting that erythrocyte membranes were normal in ALS. However, the activity of plasma AChE in patients with ALS and PMA was increased significantly over plasma activity in disease controls and normal controls. In addition, in an animal model of human PMA, the Wobbler mouse, plasma AChE activity was increased significantly over littermate controls. The explanation for the increase in plasma acetylcholinesterase was not clear; however, a number of potentially useful clinical points followed from this study. First, there was no relationship between a specific subtype of motor neuron disease and the level of AChE activity. Second, AChE activity appeared to vary directly with the duration of PMA but not with the severity of PMA. This did not correlate with either the duration or severity of ALS. Last, plasma AChE activity was normal in about 30% of patients who had motor neuron disease; therefore, AChE assay had limited use in the diagnosis of ALS or PMA.

Acetylcholinesterase and ATPases in motor neuron degenerative diseases

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was measured in the presence of the specific inhibitor of pseudocholinesterase, iso-OMPA, in plasma from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), progressive muscular atrophy (PMA), neuromuscular disease controls, and normal controls. Both AChE and Na-K ATPase activities were measured in erythrocyte ghost membranes from ALS and normal controls. Activities of erythrocyte ghost AChE and Na-K ATPase did not differ between ALS and control patients, suggesting that erythrocyte membranes were normal in ALS. However, the activity of plasma AChE in patients with ALS and PMA was increased significantly over plasma activity in disease controls and normal controls. In addition, in an animal model of human PMA, the Wobbler mouse, plasma AChE activity was increased significantly over littermate controls. The explanation for the increase in plasma acetylcholinesterase was not clear; however, a number of potentially useful clinical points followed from this study. First, there was no relationship between a specific subtype of motor neuron disease and the level of AChE activity. Second, AChE activity appeared to vary directly with the duration of PMA but not with the severity of PMA. This did not correlate with either the duration or severity of ALS. Last, plasma AChE activity was normal in about 30% of patients who had motor neuron disease; therefore, AChE assay had limited use in the diagnosis of ALS or PMA.

Plasma acetylcholinesterase in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Muscle acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in unregulated in animal and human muscular dystrophies and its activity is elevated in plasma of dystrophic chickens, probably due to a leakage from affected muscles. It is possible to measure AChE activity in human plasma in spite of high butyrylcholinesterase activity if acetyl-beta-methylcholine is used as the substrate and butyrylcholinesterase is inhibited by iso-OMPA. It has been found that, unlike in chickens, the plasma AChE activity in human newborns is not higher than that in adults. The AChE activity in plasma of children afflicted by Duchenne muscular dystrophy does not differ from that found in plasma of normal boys of the same age. In this respect Duchenne muscular dystrophy differs from chicken muscular dystrophy as well as from a neurogenic muscle disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in man.

Elevation of creatine kinase in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Potential confusion with polymyositis

Serum creatine kinase (CK) levels were recorded in 100 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). CK concentrations were elevated in 43% of the patients, with a mean level of 240 U/liter and a range of 59-1,327 U/liter (male normal less than 95 U/liter, female normal less than 59 U/liter). All patients with elevated CK had muscle weakness. Seven patients were initially misdiagnosed as having polymyositis and given high dose corticosteroids without clinical benefit, prior to the diagnosis of ALS. Such diagnostic confusion can be avoided by an awareness that CK levels cannot be used to reliably differentiate between ALS and primary muscle disease such as polymyositis.

Choline acetyltransferase and substance P-like immuno-reactivity in the human spinal cord: changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The topographic location of the enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) has recently been determined within the human spinal cord. ChAT, which is regarded as a specific marker of cholinergic structures in nervous tissue, showed an area of high activity in the ventrolateral part of the ventral horn, probably related to motor neurons. In addition, an area of high ChAT activity was found in the apical part of the dorsal horn. As amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by progressive degeneration of the cortico-spinal tracts and the lower motor neurons, we considered it of value to investigate the involvement of spinal cholinergic structures in this disorder. Substance P is regarded as the transmitter of incoming pain signals to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, a subject recently reviewed by Marx. As disturbed sensation of pain is not a symptom of ALS, there seemed reason to correlate the spinal concentration of this peptide with the activities of ChAT in ALS.

Muscle acid protease activity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: correlation with clinical and pathologic features

Acid protease activity was increased in skeletal muscle of patients with ALS. The highest levels of activity were found in individuals with the clinically and histologically most affected muscle. High levels of proteolytic activity correlated with the extent of muscle atrophy, the presence of target fibers and the overall severity of disease.

Creatine phosphokinase isoenzymes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The results of CPK isoenzyme studies in a patient with ALS are reported. Generally, normal or mildly elevated total CPK levels with MB and BB isomers were observed. Since the routine causes of MB and BB isomers were excluded, it is thought that the presence of the isomers is due to the patient's primary neurologic disease with accompanying skeletal muscle changes.

Plasma and red blood cell acetylcholinesterase in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Red blood cell and plasma cholinesterases were evaluated in control subjects and patients with the major forms of adult, sporadic motor neuron disease. For the purposes of this communication, the patients were considered as having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or its subtypes. Cholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase activities were evaluated and separated by dose response to their respective inhibitors. No kinetic differences were observed comparing red blood cell or plasma enzyme activities using either inhibitor. As found in previous studies, acetylcholinesterase accounted for more than 90% of acetylcholine hydrolysis in red blood cells. The plasma data were more complicated to evaluate, but at least 20% of total activity could be attributed to acetylcholinesterase. When red blood cell acetylcholinesterase activities of patients and controls were compared, no statistically significant difference was found. However, when plasma acetylcholinesterase activity was compared between the 2 groups, a statistically significant increase, almost twice the control value, was found in the ALS patients. These data may ultimately be important in the prognosis of this disease and, conceivably, could aid in understanding its pathogenesis.

Specificity of biophysical and biochemical alterations in erythrocyte membranes in neurological disorders--Huntington's disease, Friedreich's ataxia, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and myotonic and duchenne muscular dystrophy

Previous studies in our laboratory had demonstrated alterations in the physical state of membrane proteins in erythrocytes in Huntington's disease. In order to assess the specificity of our findings, the results of electron spin resonance studies of protein and lipid components, scanning electron-microscopic studies, enzymatic analyses of membrane-bound sodium plus potassium stimulated, magnesium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase and protein kinase, and cell deformability studies of erythrocyte membranes have been performed in the neurological disorders, Huntington's disease, Friedreich's ataxia, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and myotonic and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Comparison of the results revealed that alterations in the biophysical and biochemical states of erythrocyte membranes in each disorder are specific to the particular disease state with the exception of those in Friedreich's ataxia and Alzheimer's disease. In the latter instance, the clinical and pathological alterations suggest that these two diseases have different primary defects. Our studies suggest that the molecular basis of each disease is different. In addition, the results suggest that biophysical and biochemical investigations of extraneural tissue in Huntington's disease and other neurological disordes have the potential of clarifying the molecular mechanisms by which these diseases arise.

Exercise effect on creatine phosphokinase elevation in motor neuron disease

Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) is usually elevated in inflammatory and degenerative muscle disease but is usually reported as normal in neuropathic diseases. A review of the literature indicates, however, that it is elevated in 50 to 75% of patients who have motor neuron diseases, and that these elevations are usually 5 to 6 times normal. The effect of bedrest and moderate exercise on serial CPK values in a patient with motor neuron disease is assessed. Bedrest for 24 hours decreased his CPK to 0.58 of the baseline value; 5 hours following moderate exercise it increased to 1.71 of the basal value. This phenomenon appears to be a response to exercise stimuli rather than to the disease process itself. CPK values up O 1000 IU/L are compatible with the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In patients whose CPK values seem atypical, it is best to have them rest 48 hours before repeating the test.

Motor innervation and fiber type pattern in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

A quantitive study of the terminal innervation ratio (TIR) was conducted using 18 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 12 Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) muscle biopsies. Morphometric and histochemical analyses of muscle fibers were performed in 9 ALS and 6 CMT biopsies. The results revealed that TIR and type grouping were significantly greater in CMT than in ALS. The proportion of type 3 fibers was higher in ALS, though the proportion of intermediate and type 0 fibers was significantly higher in CMT. The atrophy factor was significantly greater in type 3 than in types 1 and 2 fibers, but it was not significantly different in type 0 and intermediate fibers as compared to types 1 and 2, It appears, therefore, that CMT has a better capacity for collateral reinnervation than ALS. Type 0 and intermediate fibers may represent altered endproducts of successful collateral reinnervation.

Abnormal expression of a serine protease in human dystrophic muscle

The activities of serine protease in muscles from normal persons and from patients with progressive muscular and neuromuscular diseases have been determined. A significant increase in the level of serine protease was found in muscle of patients with Duchenne-type muscular dystrophy and with Becker-type muscular dystrophy, but the activity was not increased in muscle of a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Histochemical and morphologic changes in skeletal muscle following cervical cord injury: a study of upper and lower motor neuron lesions

The effects of upper and lower motor neuron lesions on human skeletal muscles and muscle spindles were studied using histochemical and morphometric techniques. In the lower motor neuron lesions, the muscle fibers showed group atrophy, fiber type grouping and target fibers. The muscle spindle demonstrated thickening of the capsule, degeneration of the nuclear chain fibers, targeting and splitting of the bag fibers. In the upper motor neuron lesion, the muscles showed group atrophy with histochemical evidence of preferential type II fiber involvement. Histometrics, however, failed to demonstrate type II fiber atrophy but showed hypertrophy of type I fibers. The muscle spindles only showed increased number of intrafusal fibers.

[The activity of aminotransferases in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in neurological diseases (author's transl)]

The activities of the aminotransferases, GOT and GPT, were determined in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, Wilson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Friedreich's ataxia, phenylketonuria, and head injuries. 1. In patients with Huntington's chorea the activity of SGOT was lower than in controls (P = 0.02); in Friedreich's ataxia LGPT activity was decreased (P less than 0.001); in patients suffering from ALS SGOT (P = 0.005), SGPT (P less than 0.001) and LGOT (P less than 0.001) activities were increased. 2. Long-term treatment of Parkinson's disease and Wilson's disease with L-dopa resulted in an increase in SGOT, LGOT, and SGPT activity over approximately 2 months, with subsequent normalization of these enzyme activities in spite of continued therapy. Guanidine treatment led to an increase in aminotransferase activities in patients with ALS. Penicillamine caused a decrease in SGOT and SGPT activities in Wilson's disease. These results illustrate the necessity of taking therapeutic measures into account in the interpretation of data on aminotransferase activities.

RNA-instructed DNA polymerase activity in a cytoplasmic particulate fraction in brains from Guamanian patients

Nervous system tissues from a number of patients with idiopathic neurological disorders were examined for biochemical evidence of RNA tumor virus infection. RNase-sensitive DNA polymerase activity was found in a cytoplasmic particulate fraction from two patients with Guamanian amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) but not in brains from two normal U.S. individuals. The buoyant density of the enzyme-containing fraction was 1.16-1.18 g/ml and could be converted to a denser region of the gradient (1.24 g/ml) by treatment with the nonionic surfactant, Sterox. The cation and detergent requirements for the endogenous RNase-sensitive DNA polymerase reaction were determined. The early (5 min) endogenous reverse transcriptase product was analyzed by cesium sulfate gradient centrifugation. RNase- and heat-sensitive RNA-DNA hybrids were detected in the product analysis of two ALS, one Parkinsonism-dementia (PD) brain, and two brains from asymptomatic Chamorros but not in brains from normal U.S. individuals and a number of patients with neuro-psychiatric disorders. The DNA product was a 4.5S heteropolymer that hybridized more extensively to RNA extracted from the enzyme-containing pellet from PD brain as compared to a similar fraction from normal U.S. brain. The DNA product appeared to be unrelated to Rausvher or visna virus 70S RNA as determined by RNA-[-3H]DNA hybridization.