Comparative immunocytochemical characterization of neurofibrillary tangles in experimental maytansine and aluminum encephalopathies.

The neurofibrillary tangles induced by maytansine and aluminum are stained by the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase method, using antibodies raised against the 68, 150 and 200 kdaltons polypeptide subunits of normal neurofilaments. The immunoreaction with each of the 3 antisera occurs regardless of the location of the neurofilament accumulation, whether in perikarya, dendrites or axons. It is very likely that the filaments of the neurofibrillary tangles induced by both aluminum and maytansine contain all the 3 neurofilament subunits.