Astrocytes have many neuronal characteristics, such as neurotransmitter receptors, ion channels, and neurotransmitter uptake systems. Cultured astrocytes were shown to express certain neuropeptide genes, with specificity for both the gene expressed and the brain region from which the cells were prepared. Somatostatin messenger RNA and peptides were detected only in cerebellar astrocytes, whereas proenkephalin messenger RNA and enkephalin peptides were present in astrocytes of cortex, cerebellum, and striatum. Cholecystokinin was not expressed in any of the cells. These results support the hypothesis that peptides synthesized in astrocytes may play a role in the development of the central nervous system.

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We developed a sensitive and simple procedure for determination of galactosylsphingosine (psychosine), using HPLC. The method involved extraction of lipids, separation by cation-exchange and C18 reverse-phase columns, and derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde. The fluorescent galactosylsphingosine was detected by HPLC. The amount of galactosylsphingosine was accurately assayed by simultaneous determination of glucosylsphingosine, as the internal standard. The detection limit was 0.5 ng/assay tube, and the quantitative range of the method was up to 750 ng. This procedure was applied to tissue from the twitcher mouse, an animal model of human globoid cell leukodystrophy, as well as tissue from normal and carrier mice. In the latter mice, a small amount of galactosylsphingosine was detected in the spinal cord (21.6-37.2 ng/100 mg wet weight) but not in the cerebrum and sciatic nerve. Marked accumulation of galactosylsphingosine was noted in the nervous tissues of the twitcher strain, even on postnatal day 4. The concentration of galactosylsphingosine was greater in the peripheral than in central nervous tissues. The spinal cord and brainstem contained more galactosylsphingosine than did the cerebrum and cerebellum. The concentration increased with age from 764 ng/100 mg in the sciatic nerve at 4 days to 5,910 ng/100 mg at 37 days. These data correlate well with the pathological changes; tissues containing higher concentrations of galactosylsphingosine show earlier and more severe pathological changes than those containing lower concentrations, thereby indicating the close link of galactosylsphingosine to the pathogenesis of the twitcher mouse.

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