title: Differential distribution of a neurofilament protein epitope in acetylcholinesterase-rich neurons of human cerebral neocortex.
abstract: The majority of acetylcholinesterase-rich pyramidal neurons in neocortical layers III and V of the human brain displayed intense immunostaining with SMI-32, a monoclonal antibody which recognizes a non-phosphorylated epitope of neurofilament proteins. In contrast, very few of the heteromorphic acetylcholinesterase-rich perikarya embedded in the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres are associated with this type of immunostaining. These two groups of acetylcholinesterase-rich cortical neurons can thus be differentiated not only on the basis of morphology and location but also on the basis of cytochemical signature. The concurrent visualization of SMI-32 immunoreactivity and acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity also showed that SMI-32 immunoreactive neurons can be subdivided into several subgroups on the basis of their perikaryal acetylcholinesterase activity.
authors.affiliation: Bullard and Denny-Brown Laboratories, Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Neurology, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA 02215.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mesulam
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geula
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase