Immunocytochemical detection of calcineurin and microtubule-associated protein 2 in central neurocytoma.

An immunohistochemical study was carried out on four cases of central neurocytoma, which had characteristic clinicopathological features including ultrastructural findings. Specific antibodies to calcineurin (CaN), microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and synaptophysin (SYP) were used. All tumor tissues examined showed specific immunoreactivity for CaN and MAP2. Immunolabelling of both molecules revealed that they were mainly localized in the perikarya and proximal processes of the tumor cells. SYP immunoreactivity was found in three of the four cases. SYP immunoreaction products were predominantly seen in the tumor cell processes, while the perikarya were weakly or moderately positive for SYP. The data suggest that CaN and MAP2, together with SYP, can be useful tools for identifying and characterizing of the central neurocytoma.