HOMOCYSTEATE-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN MULTIFORM GLIOBLASTOMA OF HUMANBRAIN

Anti-homocysteate antibodies with postembedding immunohistochemistry f or light microscopy were used to localize homocysteate-like immunoreac tivity in human multiform glioblastoma. The most remarkable stained el ements (6.8% of the total tumoral tissue) corresponded to distinct ast rocytic cell bodies, intermingled fibrous processes and puncta of dive rse size, some of them closely apposed to capillaries. In not affected peritumoral tissue, on the other hand, numerous labelled dots resembl ing portions of glial processes were observed in the neuropil and arou nd blood vessels (2.7% of the total peritumoral tissue). However, glia l and neuronal cell bodies could not be detected. These observations e xtend to a human brain tumor of glial nature the knowledge on the pref erential localization of homocysteate in glia.