PATHOLOGICAL TAU-PROTEINS IN POSTENCEPHALITIC PARKINSONISM - COMPARISON WITH ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE AND OTHER NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS

Immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses of hyperphosphorylated ta u proteins, the major component of neurofibrillary tangles, were perfo rmed in different brain regions From patients presenting with postence phalitic parkinsonism. Neurofibrillary tangles were found in hippocamp us, neocortical areas (mostly in supragranular layers), and several su bcortical structures. By immunoblotting, a tau protein triplet similar to the one seen in Alzheimer's disease was observed. This biochemical approach allows for the definition of postencephalitic parkinsonism f rom certain neurodegenerative disorders such as progressive supranucle ar palsy and corticobasal degeneration.