CUZNSOD AND MNSOD IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN BRAIN-STEM MOTOR-NEURONS FROM AMYOTROPIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

Motor neurons from the brain stems of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (A LS) and control patients were examined with immunoantibodies to CuZn-s uperoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and Mn-superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). We found that there was a marked staining for CuZnSOD in all the motor nu clei, the hypoglossus, ambiguus, facialis and trigeminus from the ALS patients, but not in the controls. The same neurons from the ALS patie nts also stained very intensely for MnSOD, whereas the neurons from th e control patients stained weakly or not at all. Loss of neurons was a lso a very consistent finding and was noted in all the motor nuclei fr om the ALS patients, There was a proliferation of glial cells which st ained strongly both for CuZnSOD and for MnSOD accompanying the loss of the neurons. These results indicated that there was an apparent incre ase of superoxide dismutase immunoreactivity in motor neurons of ALS p atients. We conclude that CuZnSOD and MnSOD immunoreactivity is increa sed in motor neurons and glia in the brain stems of patients with ALS, specific for the terminal phase of this disease.