—The brain‐specific antigens 14·3·2, GFA, A5, F3, D1, D2, D3 and C1 were quantitated in a short‐term astroglial cell culture taken as a model of glial cells, and in synaptosomes, synaptosomal membranes and synaptic vesicles as neuronal material. Furthermore, the antigens were quantitated in newborn rat brain, as this served as the starting material for the cell culture. The membrane antigens C1, D1, D2 and D3 were absent from the cultured astroglia, indicating a neuronal origin for these antigens. C1 was enriched 3‐fold in synaptosomes and synaptosomal membranes and more than 10‐fold in synaptic vesicles indicating that this antigen might be a marker protein for nerve endings. The name Synaptin is introduced for this antigen. Conversely, the data on the antigens D1, D2 and D3 indicated that these antigens were not restricted to the synaptosomes although they were of neuronal origin. Trace amounts of the cathodal part of the heterogeneous cytoplasmic antigen 14·3·2 were present in the cell culture, possibly originating from a few contaminating neurons. The cytoplasmic antigens A5 and F3 were found both in the astroglial culture and in the synaptosomal fraction. F3, however, was found in low concentration in the synaptosomes and 3‐fold enriched in newborn rat brain compared to rat brain from 35‐day‐old rats or to 21‐day‐old brain cell cultures. It was therefore regarded as a brain specific fetal antigen. The antigen GFA was highly enriched in the astroglial culture compared to whole brain and only trace amounts were found in the synaptosomal fraction supporting the astroglial origin of this antigen.
Summary.-Extracts of glioblastomas and meningiomas were analysed by quantitative immunoelectrophoresis for the presence of foetal brain antigens and tumourassociated antigens, and levels of 2 normal brain-specific proteins were also determined. The following antibodies were used: monospecific anti-S-100 (glia specific); monospecific anti-GFA (glial fibrillary acidic protein), (astroglia specific); polyspecific anti -foetal brain (12-16th week of gestation); a polyspecific anti-glioblastoma antiserum, absorbed with insolubilized serum, haemolysate and normal brain extract; polyspecific anti-meningioma antiserum, absorbed as for glioblastoma antiserum; monospecific anti-a-foetoprotein; and monospecific anti-ferritin. Using the antibodies raised against the tumours, several antigens not present in foetal or adult normal brain were found in the glioblastomas and the meningiomas. These antigens cross -reacted with antigens present in normal liver and were therefore not tumour-associated. S-100 was found in glioblastomas in approximately one tenth the amount in whole brain homogenate, whereas GFA was found 2-4 times enriched. The 2 proteins were absent in meningiomas. The possible use of the GFA protein as a marker for astroglial neoplasia is discussed.Five foetal antigens were found in foetal brain, but none in the tumours. a-Foetoprotein could only be demonstrated in foetal tissue extracts, including foetal brain, but not in tumours. Ferritin was detected in all tumour extracts, although the amounts determined were unrelated to histological tumour type.
‐Rates of oxygen uptake were measured in chick and/or rat astrocytes and neuronal cells cultivated for 2–4 weeks in Falcon flasks or Rose chambers. All the preparations were found to have respiratory rates between 0.4 and 0.8 × 10−5μl/h O2 per cell. Based upon measurements of cell diameters these values were recalculated to about 570 μmol/g wet wt. for the neuronal cells and 130 μmol/g wet wt. for the glial cells. The results are compared with previous data of oxygen uptake by neurons and glial cells separated by other procedures.
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