Plasmalogenase activities in neuronal perikarya, astroglia, and oligodendroglia isolated from bovine brain.

Plasmalogenase (EC 3.3.2.-, 1-alk-1'-enyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylethanolamine aldehydrogendrolase) activities were assayed with the plasmalogens in dispersed myelin as the substrate. The activities were 6,7-mumoles/mg protein per hr in oligodendroglia from white matter, and 1.1 and 0.6 for astroglia and neuronal perikarya from gray matter. Myelin had no plasmalogenase activity. Thus, both the normal catabolism of myelin plasmalogens and the accelerated hydrolysis of plasmalogens in demyelination is probably carried out by oligodendroglial plasmalogenase.