IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF NEURON-SPECIFIC ENOLASE IN HUMAN BRAINS FROM FORENSIC AUTOPSIES

Immunohistochemistry using anti-human neuron-specific enolase (NSE) mo use monoclonal antibody was performed in human brains from autopsy cas es, which enabled us to assess the neuronal damage besides hematoxylin and eosin or Kluver-Barrera stain. Neurons in cerebral neocortex whic h showed necrotic changes such as prominent cytoplasmic vacuolization or cellular shrinkage with nuclear pyknosis showed a tendency to be le ss stained by anti-NSE antibody. Anti-NSE immunostaining was statistic ally significantly less in the neocortex from CO intoxication than fro m other causes of death, although morphological necrotic changes were less observed in CO intoxication. Hippocampal CA1 neurons clearly lost NSE immunoreactivity with the progression of necrotic changes. Neuron s in CA2 were statistically significantly better stained by anti-NSE a ntibody than in CA1, 3, and 4. Cerebellar Purkinje cells were poorly s tained by anti-NSE antibody, whereas neurons in cerebellar dentate nuc leus and inferior olive in medulla oblongata were better stained. Anti -NSE immunostaining was lost in the injured areas of the cerebral neoc ortex while neurons in the intact areas were better stained in brain i njury. These results indicate that anti-NSE immunostaining of neurons could reflect vital reaction and could be useful in evaluating neurona l damage in the hippocampal CA1 region or brain injury. (C) 1998 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.