Activity of neuron-specific enolase in normal and lesioned rat brain.

Rat brain contains 3 forms of enolase, a neuron-specific form (NSE), a hybrid form, and a non-neuronal form (NNE) which were separated by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The enolase activity corresponding to each form of the enzyme eluted from the columns was determined spectrophotometrically. Using this assay procedure, an activity ratio (%NNE/%NSE) was calculated for cerebellum, brainstem, sciatic nerve, adrenals and liver. The results indicated excellent agreement between this enzymatically determined ratio and published values of a similar ratio (NNE/NSE) determined by radioimmunoassay for enzyme protein. Following in vivo destruction of neurons by intracerebral injection of the selective neurotoxin, kainic acid, there was a significant decrease in the activity of NSE and hybrid enolase (neuronal forms) and no change in the activity of NNE (glial form). These data indicate that separation and measurement of enolase species is useful to determine levels of these species in normal tissue and to estimate neuronal damage biochemically in brain lesions.