Immunocytochemical method to identify myelin basic protein in oligodendroglia and myelin sheaths of the human nervous system.

To study the distribution of basic protein (BP) and other myelin constituents immunocytochemically in human nervous tissue, we modified the unlabeled antibody enzyme (peroxidase-antiperoxidase) method. The technique is described here. Because the availability of unfixed tissue from human central nervous system is limited, we tested the method on blocks that had been fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin, fixed and stored in 4% formalin, or frozen at autopsy and stored. We obtained the best results with paraffin blocks. BP antiserum stained oligodendroglia and myelin sheaths in the developing human nervous system. In the adult, myelin sheaths were well stained. Also, abnormalities associated with myelin breakdown could be identified in multiple sclerosis lesions. The results suggest that this method will be useful in studying the cellular distribution of myelin components in human demyelinating diseases.