Effect of ZCR-2060, an antiallergic agent, on antigen-induced immediate- and late-phase increases in airway resistance in sensitized guinea pigs

The effect of 2-[2-[4-(diphenylmethyl)-1-piperadinyl]ethoxy] benzoic acid maleate (ZCR-2060) on passive systemic anaphylaxis (PSA) and antigen-induced immediate- and late-phase increase in airway resistance (Rrs) in either passively or actively sensitized guinea pigs were investigated. ZCR-2060 inhibited PSA in guinea pigs. ID50 values of ZCR-2060, ketotifen, terfenadine and cetirizine on PSA were 0.03, 0.02, 0.8 and 0.3 mg/kg, respectively, when administered orally 1 h before the antigen challenge. The protective effect of ZCR-2060 was observed until 12 h before the antigen challenge. Aeroantigen-induce immediate increase in Rrs in passively sensitized guinea pigs with and without metyrapone treatment was inhibited by ZCR-2060, ketotifen, terfenadine and cetirizine. In contrast, prednisolone did not affect the aeroantigen-induced immediate increase in Rrs in animals not treated with metyrapone, but significantly inhibited the metyrapone-induced enhanced immediate response. In actively sensitized animals, the immediate- and late-phase increases in Rrs were observed within 30 min and between 3 and 8 h after the aeroantigen challenge. Pretreatment with metyrapone accelerated both antigen-induced responses. ZCR-2060 (1 mg/kg) significantly inhibited both responses. Ketotifen (1 mg/kg), terfenadine (10 mg/kg) and prednisolone (10 mg/kg) significantly the inhibited the late-phase response, but did not affect the immediate-phase response. In contrast, Cetirizine (10 mg/kg) did not affect either response. The effect of ZCR-2060 on late-phase response was stronger than that of ketotifen, terfenadine and cetirizine, and was almost the same as that of prednisolone. These results suggest that ZCR-2060 has a potent protective effect on immediate- and late-phase increases in Rrs.

Evidence for the involvement of glycanase activities in the dissociation of cortical cell walls during the emergence of callus from rice root tissues in the presence of 2,4-D

Nojirimycin bisulfite andp-nitrophenyl-1-thio-ß-D-glucoside, potent inhibitors of ß-glucanase, suppressed cortical dissociation and callus growth in rice roots (Oryza sativa L. cv. Sasanishiki) in the presence of 2,4-D, with resultant suppression of the emergence of callus clumps from the interior of root tissues. These sugar analogs inhibited the 2,4-D-induced increase in the elastic and plastic compliance of cell walls but did not affect oxygen uptake by root explants in the presence of 2,4-D. They also inhibited the activities of CM-cellulase, ß-glucosidase and α-arabinosidase in 2 M NaCl-soluble and/or buffer-soluble fractions of crude root extracts. Involvement of glycan hydrolase activities in cell wall dissociation during callus emergence is discussed.

Dementia with ALS features and diffuse Pick body-like inclusions (atypical Pick's disease?)

An autopsy case of dementia beginning with right hand muscle atrophy was reported. A 42-year-old woman with no family history of neurologic disease developed weakness of the right hand at age 30, and was diagnosed as having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The weakness and atrophy spread to the four extremities subsequently. At age 36, she could not walk without assistance. At age 38, she was first noted as having dementia with forced crying, and she also showed generalized muscle weakness and atrophy. She rapidly developed akinetic mutism, and died of respiratory failure at age 42, 12 years after the onset of the symptoms. Macroscopically, the brain showed fronto-temporal atrophy. Microscopic examination revealed numerous intracytoplasmic inclusions throughout the central nervous system (CNS) including anterior horn of the spinal cord. The inclusions were stained moderate to dark brown with silver stain. Electron microscopically, they consisted of fibrils covered along most of the length with granular and fuzzy materials. This case was thought to be difficult to categorize in any known neuro-degenerative diseases. We proposed the case to be "atypical Pick's disease" with ALS features. This case might be a new entity of neuro-degenerative disease.

Antihypertensive and renal-protective effects of losartan in streptozotocin diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE

To assess the renal benefits of a specific angiotensin II receptor antagonist, losartan, in diabetic rats with renal impairment.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Uninephrectomized streptozotocin diabetic spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were randomly assigned to receive vehicle, or to receive losartan or captopril, or both, intraperitoneally via osmotic minipumps for 8 weeks.

RESULTS

Blood pressure and urinary protein excretion in the diabetic SHR increased progressively during the experimental period. Both captopril treatment and losartan treatment completely blocked the development of hypertension in diabetic SHR. Simultaneous administration of captopril and losartan did not enhance the antihypertensive effects of losartan treatment or captopril treatment. Furthermore, losartan treatment, captopril treatment and losartan + captopril treatment all significantly decreased urinary protein excretion, urinary albumin excretion and serum creatinine to the same extent. These effects were sustained for the entire experimental period and were not associated with any significant changes in body weight, urine volume, urine sugar and urinary electrolytes excretion. These results were confirmed by morphological analysis of kidneys in each group of rats. Losartan treatment, captopril treatment and losartan+captopril treatment all significantly and effectively protected against an increase in the percentage of focal glomerular sclerosis. Losartan treatment and captopril treatment both significantly attenuated the increase in heart weight: body weight ratio. The heart weight: body weight ratio in the losartan-treated group was significantly lower than in the captopril-treated group.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that hypertension could accelerate diabetic renal impairment and that losartan has antihypertensive and renoprotective effects in this rat model. They also suggest that the antihypertensive and renoprotective effects of captopril treatment in this rat model are caused mainly by inhibition of angiotensin II production rather than stimulation of the kallikrein-kinin system or of vasodilator prostaglandins. The difference in potency between losartan treatment and captopril treatment to attenuate the increase in heart weight: body weight ratio might partly explain the existence in the heart of angiotensin-forming pathways, which are not dependent on angiotensin converting enzyme.

Topographical projections from the medial septum-diagonal band complex to the hippocampus: a retrograde tracing study with multiple fluorescent dyes in rats

Direct projections from the medial septum-diagonal band complex (MS-DB) to the hippocampus were studied in rats using the retrograde labeling method with fluorescent dyes. In the first series of experiments, the distribution patterns of retrogradely labeled cells in the MS-DB were examined in sagittal sections, following simultaneous injection of two different fluorescent dyes separately into the ventral hippocampus (VHPC) and the dorsal hippocampus (DHPC). It was found that the DHPC received fiber terminals mainly from the rostral half of the MS-vertical limb of the diagonal band (VDB) and the core part of the horizontal limb of the diagonal band (HDB), whereas the VHPC received fiber terminals largely from the caudal half part of the MS-VDB and the marginal part of the HDB. The marginal part appears to form a 'C' and not a complete circle around the core part. In the second series of experiments, the distribution patterns of retrogradely labeled cells in the MS-DB were investigated in sagittal sections, following simultaneous injection of three or two different fluorescent dyes separately into the subfields of the DHPC. The CA1 received fiber terminals mainly from the HDB and VDB, while the hilus received fiber terminals mainly from the MS. The CA2-CA3 received fiber terminals almost equally from the MS, VDB and HDB. The present results reveal distinctive topographical organizations of the septohippocampal connections.

[Assessment of coronary stenosis severity using a Doppler guide wire in vivo: is the continuity equation applicable to moderate to severe coronary artery stenosis?]

The usefulness of a Doppler guide wire was evaluated in the estimation of coronary stenosis severity in patients with moderate to severe coronary stenosis using the continuity equation. The maximal coronary flow velocities (V) proximal to the stenosis (p), at the stenosis (s), and distal to the stenosis (d) were measured using a Doppler guide wire (12-MHz, 0.018-in) in 12 patients with mild coronary stenosis (less than 50% diameter stenosis: group A) and 12 patients with moderate to severe coronary stenosis (more than 50% diameter stenosis: group B). Percent diameter stenosis (%DS) was calculated from Vp/Vs by: %DS = (1 - square root of Vp/Vs) x 100 (%) (Vp = the maximal velocity proximal to the stenosis; Vs = the peak velocity at the stenotic site) Percent DS was calculated from Vd/Vs by: %DS = (1 - square root of Vd/Vs) x 100 (%) (Vd = the peak velocity distal to the stenosis) Regression of Doppler-derived %DS from Vp/Vs compared to quantitative coronary angiographic % DS were: Group A: y = 0.83x + 3.0 (r = 0.79), Group B: y = 0.63x + 9.4 (r = 0.81), Overall: y = 0.63x + 9.6 (r = 0.91) Regression of Doppler-derived %DS from Vd/Vs compared to quantitative coronary angiographic %DS were: Group A: y = 0.98x - 1.0 (r = 0.81), Group B: y = 0.67x + 14.6 (r = 0.84), Overall: y = 0.79x + 7.6 (r = 0.91) The continuity equation method using a Doppler guide wire underestimates coronary stenosis severity in patients with moderate to severe coronary stenosis, although Doppler-derived %DS is correlated with angiographic %DS.

Calpain is implicated in rat myocardial injury after ischemia or reperfusion

Calpain activity was measured in the various subfractions of rat myocardia after global ischemia for 60 min or after ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion after the chromatographic separation of mu- and m-calpains. The activity of m-calpain after ischemia and that of mu-calpain after reperfusion were both higher than that in the control. The activity of the endogenous calpain inhibitor calpastatin in 10,000 x g supernatant was decreased after both ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion. The increase in m- and mu-calpain activities was suppressed by pre-ischemic perfusion with a synthetic calpain inhibitor, transepoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido (4-guanidino) butane (E64d, 100 micrograms/ml). After reperfusion, the calpain activity in the 10,000 x g pellet was also increased, which was inhibited by pre-ischemic perfusion with E64d or dimethylsulfoxide (a solvent for E64d) or by reperfusion with 1 mmol/L ethyleneglycol bis (beta-aminoethylether)-N, N, N', N'-tetraacetic acid. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the proteolysis of several proteins, including fodrin, in the 10,000 x g and 100,000 x g pellet fractions after ischemia and reperfusion, some of which were confirmed to be in vitro substrates of calpain. The creatine kinase release during the reperfusion was also partially inhibited by E64d or dimethylsulfoxide. Thus, calpain activity in the soluble or particulate fractions was altered during ischemia or reperfusion, and appeared to be implicated in the proteolysis of the membrane proteins, which may contribute to myocardial injury.

Effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on dynamics of the polar head group of phosphatidylserine bilayers

The effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on the molecular motion of the polar head group in phosphatidylserine (PS) bilayers were measured by the time-resolved fluorescence depolarization method probed by 1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-[N-(4-nitrobenzo- 2-oxa-1,3-diazole)]ethanolamine [formula: see text] (NBD-PE). By this method, the rate and width of the molecular motion at the fluorescent moieties in the probe molecules could be evaluated as the wobbling diffusion rate (Dw, s-1) and the half cone angle of the wobbling cone (theta c, degree). The values of Dw and theta c measured for NBD-PE embedded in bovine brain phosphatidylserine bilayers were 3.7 x 10(7) s-1 and 46 degrees in the absence of divalent cations at 25 degrees C. When 3 mM of Ca2+ was added, both Dw and theta c distinctly dropped to 1.7 x 10(7) s-1 and 38 degrees, respectively. By the addition of 3 mM of Mg2+, however, only Dw decreased to 2.7 x 10(7) s-1 and theta c remained unchanged. These results show that both Ca2+ and Mg2+ decrease the rate of motion at the head part in PS molecules, but only Ca2+ narrows the distance between the neighboring head groups. Since Mg2+ does not promote vesicle fusion, it appears that the deformation at the head group region in the bilayer structure induced by Ca2+ is an important step in the membrane fusion process.

Effect of fibronectin on the production of leukotriene C4 by eosinophils

The effect of fibronectin on leukotriene C4 (LTC4) production by eosinophils was examined. Eosinophils obtained from patients with bronchial asthma were cultured for 3 h with or without fibronectin and culture supernatants were assayed for LTC4 by specific enzyme immunoassay. LTC4 was produced in a time- and dose-dependent manner in the presence of fibronectin, and maximum production of LTC4 was observed 3 h after addition of 100 micrograms/ml of fibronectin. These results suggest that eosinophils may be activated by interaction with extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectin, and play a role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.

C-fos gene expression in rat retinal cells after focal retinal injury

PURPOSE

To examine the expression of c-fos proto-oncogene in the rat retina after focal retinal injury.

METHODS

A penetrating wound was made by pushing a 22-gauge hypodermic needle through the retina into the vitreous. The retinas were analyzed by in situ hybridization using single-stranded RNA probes for c-fos transcripts and by immunocytochemistry using anti-S100 protein antibody.

RESULTS

Thirty minutes after the penetrating wound, c-fos mRNA was expressed in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and the ganglion cell layer (GCL) of the retina. Immunocytochemistry before in situ hybridization demonstrated c-fos mRNA surrounding the S-100 protein immunoreactive cytoplasm in the middle layer of the INL.

CONCLUSIONS

Focal retinal injury of the rat retina induced the expression of c-fos mRNA in retinal cells. In the INL, it is suggested that the major cells that express c-fos mRNA after focal retinal injury were the Müller cells. These results suggest that c-fos may be involved in the transcription in the Müller cells after injury to the retina.

Behavioral studies on FR115427, a novel selective N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist

Behavioral and in vitro receptor binding methods were used to evaluate and compare the effects of FR115427 ((+)-l-methyl-1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride) with those of MK801, a non-competitive NMDA antagonist. FR115427 inhibited NMDA-induced convulsions in mice by intracerebroventrical(ICV) and systematic injection. FR115427 was found to be about ten times less potent than MK801. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of FR115427 and MK801 on NMDA-induced convulsions was evaluated in time course studies in mice. MK801 exhibited a more sustained anticonvulsive activity than FR115427. In addition, PCP-like behaviors were examined in mice after ICV injection of these compounds. At the lowest dose FR115427 significantly increased locomotor activity, although the effect of this compound was about hundred times less potent than that of MK801. At higher dose a more complex pattern of behavior, e.g. head-movement and eventually ataxia was observed. In binding assays with rat brain membranes, FR115427 inhibited the binding of (3H)TCP (IC50 = 0.249 microM) and (3H)MK801 (IC50 = 0.312 microM) but did not inhibit the binding of (3H)CPP or (3H)glycine. These results suggest that FR115427 is a novel non-competitive NMDA antagonist that acts on a binding site located within the NMDA receptor associated ion channel.

[Inhibitory effects of Forskolin on hepatic metastasis from human colon cancer in nude mice]

Platelet aggregation has been believed to play an important role in implantation of tumor cells into the target organ during the early phase of tumor metastasis. In the present study, the effects of Forskolin, a strong platelet aggregation inhibitor, on experimental hepatic metastasis from human colon cancer (HT29LMM) in nude mice and inhibitory effects of Forskolin on platelet aggregation in the presence of tumor cells were evaluated. A hepatic metastasis model was established by intrasplenic implantation of 3-4 x 10(6) of HT29LMM human colon cancer cells in nude mice. Intraperitoneally 10mg/kg of Forskolin was given 30 minutes before and 24 hours, after implantation of tumor cells, respectively. The control group received saline instead of Forskolin. Phase of hepatic metastasis has been compared for the total weight of hepatic metastatic lesions and the occupied rate between the Forskolin-given group and the control group. The total weight of hepatic metastasis lesions (0.36 +/- 0.33g (SD) vs 3.36 +/- 1.31g) and the occupied rate (8.22 +/- 7.91% vs 67.9 +/- 23.2%) were significantly low in the Forskolin-given group compared with the control group. In vitro inhibitory effects of Forskolin on platelet aggregation was recognized under the presence of HT291LMM. This study suggests that the platelet aggregation inhibitor drug. Forskolin, inhibits hepatic metastasis from human colon cancer by preventing platelet aggregation during the metastatic tumor formation.

[Adenosine triphosphate loading thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy: optimal dose and diagnostic accuracy]

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an alternative to dipyridamole or adenosine in thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy. However, the optimal dose of ATP has not been determined. A Doppler guide wire study showed the coronary flow velocity at a dose of 0.15 mg/kg of ATP was equal or higher than that at 0.14 mg/kg of adenosine or 0.56 mg/kg of dipyridamole. ATP was given intravenously to 67 patients with coronary artery disease at 0.15 mg/kg/min for 6 min. Thallium-201 was injected at 3 min, followed by immediate and delayed (3 hrs) tomographic imaging. There was no serious side effect during examination, although chest pain (26%), dyspnea (17%), and flushing (33%) were common. The sensitivity and specificity to detect coronary artery disease were 98 and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity to detect left anterior descending artery, left circumflex artery, and right coronary artery lesions was 94, 59 and 77%, respectively. ATP loading thallium-201 scintigraphy provides an accurate diagnosis of coronary artery disease. The optimal dose of ATP is 0.15 mg/kg/min for 6 min.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia associated with nephrotic syndrome and dermatomyositis

Several types of autoimmune complications of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have been previously reported. However, the tendency to develop autoantibodies is usually restricted to the hematopoietic system. We report a 68-year-old man who had developed dermatomyositis after ten years of chemotherapy for CLL. He also had secondary nephrotic syndrome at the onset of CLL. Subsequently, the patient died of perforation of the small intestine. The association of both nephrotic syndrome and dermatomyositis with CLL is very rare. We discuss the possibility of a casual relation.

Cloning and sequencing of a 36-kb region of the Bacillus subtilis genome between the gnt and iol operons

Within the framework of an international project for the sequencing of the entire Bacillus subtilis genome, a 36-kb chromosome segment, which covers the region between the gnt and iol operons, has been cloned and sequenced. This region (36447 bp) contains 33 complete open reading frames (ORFs; genes) including the four gnt genes and one partial gene. A homology search for the products of the 33 complete ORFs revealed significant homology to known proteins in 16 of them such as tetracycline resistance protein (Clostridium perfringens), asparagine synthetase (Arabidopsis thaliana), aldehyde dehydrogenase (Pseudomonas oleovorans), 2,5-dichloro-2,5-cyclohexadiene-1, 4-diol dehydrogenase (P. paucimobilis), heat shock protein HtpG (Escherichia coli), galactose-proton symporter (E. coli), auxin-induced protein (common tobacco), glucitol operon repressor (E. coli) and methylmalonate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (P. aeruginosa). Unlike the regions we sequenced so far, this region contained two short sequence multiplications: one was a tandem sequence duplication (409 and 410 bp), and the other a triplication consisting of two highly conserved 118-bp tandem sequences preceded by a less conserved similar sequence (129 bp). The reasons for the presence of these sequence multiplications in the gnt to iol region were deduced.

Pretreatment with chlormadinone acetate eliminates testosterone surge induced by a luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone analogue and the risk of disease flare in patients with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate

We investigated the efficacy of 2-week and 4-week pretreatments with 100 mg/day chlormadinone acetate (CMA) to prevent the flare reaction induced by luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in patients with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. CMA lead-in therapy suppressed bone pain and serum levels of luteinizing hormone, testosterone and prostate-specific antigen levels. CMA therapy also suppressed the transient increases in these levels associated with the initiation of therapy. The 4-week regimen appeared to be more effective than the 2-week regimen.

Host origin of follicular dendritic cells induced in the spleen of SCID mice after transfer of allogeneic lymphocytes

Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) are uniquely characterized by the ability to trap immune complexes. In a previous report, it was shown that functional FDC with the capacity to trap immune complexes via complement receptor emerged in the splenic follicle after transferring syngeneic lymphocytes into the severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse. In the present report, we have investigated whether FDC are derived from haematopoietic cells or surrounding stromal components, by transferring allogeneic lymphocytes into SCID mice. Transfer of allogeneic T and B lymphocytes (H-2k) into SCID(H-2d) mice, however, failed to induce the development of FDC in the splenic white pulp. This was due to a graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) by allogeneic lymphocytes against host stromal cells, as revealed by the destruction of the splenic reticular meshwork. The GVHR was prevented in transfer experiments of T-cell-depleted allogeneic lymphocytes with daily administration of anti-Thy-1 antibody. This resulted in segregated lodgement of allogeneic B lymphocytes in the proper compartments and, thereafter, generation of FDC in the primary follicle of SCID spleen, as revealed by the trapped immune complexes via complement receptors. The H-2 of the newly generated FDC was examined by two-colour immunofluorescent staining. FDC were defined as the reticular cells stained with anti-CR1/2 or FDC-M1 antibodies. FDC carried host H-2, clearly indicating that newly generated FDC are host-derived. In addition, the FDC shared the BP-3 protein with the surrounding reticular cells, a specific marker of reticular meshwork in the murine lymphoid tissues, and formed a network continuous with the rest of the reticulum, suggesting that FDC and non-FDC reticular cells belong to the same cell lineage.

[The effect of occult hyperprolactinemia (OHP) on gonadotropin secretion system]

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of the transient increase of serum prolactin levels on the gonadotropin secretion system in patients with occult hyperprolactinemia (OHP). 216 cases of normoprolactinemic hypothalamic anovulatious were selected by LH-RH and TRH loading tests, and 5mg/day of bromocriptine was administered for more than 8 weeks. The effectiveness of the bromocriptine administration was estimated by the ultrasonic examination of the follicular development. The endocrinological backgrounds were compared between bromocriptine effective (154 cases, group A) and non-effective (62 cases, group B) patients. Serum prolactin levels 30min. after LH-RH and TRH loading (PRL30 in group A were significantly higher than those of group B (74.1 +/- 36.5 vs. 38.0 +/- 18.2ng/ml, p < 0.01). From this result, it was thought that many of the OHP patients were selected in group A. Serum LH levels 30min. after loading test (LH30) in group A also increased compared to those of group B (65.0 +/- 66.5 vs. 43.1 +/- 34.3mIU/ml, p < 0.02). The LH/FSH ratio before loading was also higher in group A (1.3 +/- 0.6) than that of group B (1.0 +/- 0.5, p < 0.02). This fact showed that group A also contained patients with hyper-LH hypothalamic anovulation, which is known as the endocrinological PCOD. There were also significant inverse correlations between serum levels of prolactin and FSH in group A (before loading values: r = 0.272, 30min. after loading: r = 0.224, p < 0.01). By the administration of bromocriptine, serum prolactin levels decreased both in group A and B, and the elevated serum LH/FSH ratio (1.0 +/- 0.4, p < = 0.02), LH30 (46.1 +/- 37.0mIU/ml, p < 0.005) also decreased significantly. Serum levels of FSH in group A increased significantly with treatment (before loading: 5.4 +/- 2.6-->6.2 +/- 2.0, 30min. after loading: 10.6 +/- 6.0-->14.6 +/- 9.9mIU/ml, p < 0.005). From these facts, it was concluded that FSH secretion was suppressed even by a slight increase of serum prolactin levels which was usually seen in the OHP, and bromocriptine administration was effective not only for the suppression of serum prolactin and LH levels, but also for the improvement of FSH secretion in the OHP patients.

[The regulation of testicular function by paracrine mechanism]

It is well accepted that testicular function is controlled by gonadotropins. Androgen secretion is regulated by LH, whereas spermatogenesis is controlled by FSH and locally produced androgens. However, evidence has accumulated to indicate that this extratesticular control system is modulated by equally important intratesticular cell-cell interactions. The study of this local control system has received major impetus from the development techniques which have allowed isolation and culture of purified testicular cells and has revealed that testicular cells respond to previously unexpected variable humoral factors which are produced by testicular cells themselves, namely testicular paracrinology. Numerous reviews with regard to cell-cell interactions have been published. In this paper, we attempted to summarize recent topics of para and autocrinology of testicular androgen biosynthesis and spermatogenesis.

Adult GM1 gangliosidosis: immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings in an autopsy case

We report neuropathologic findings for a 66-year-old Japanese man with adult/chronic GM1 gangliosidosis whose main clinical symptoms were speech and gait disturbance attributable to dystonia with rigidity. He was a homozygote for the 51isoleucine (ATC)-->threonine (ACC) mutation in the beta-galactosidase gene. Neuronal loss and intracytoplasmic storage were most prominent in the caudate nucleus and putamen and, to a lesser degree, in the amygdala, globus pallidus, and Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. Other areas of the CNS were relatively spared. We believe that this selective neuronal involvement in the CNS is characteristic of adult/chronic GM1 gangliosidosis and that it reflects a more active turnover of GM1 ganglioside in the affected areas than elsewhere in the CNS.