Central neural antigens: detection and diagnostic application.

During the last few years, methods have been developed which permit practical use of biochemical research on the nervous system. In the central nervous system, proteins have been identified for astrocytes (glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin) and oligodendroglia (myelin basic protein and other glycoproteins). For certain classes of nerve cells, the neurofilament proteins and neuron-specific enolase (a glycolytic isoenzyme) have been identified. Detection of some of these substances in body fluids is possible via radioimmunoassays (RIA) and in tissue sections using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunohistochemical method.