Histochemical demonstration of adenosine deaminase in the human neuraxis. Preliminary observations

Because of the importance of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in brain function, a histochemical method for visualizing the enzyme in various areas of the human neuraxis was devised, using an MTT [3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] method and glutaraldehyde fixation. Controls consisted of preincubation without the substrate, incubation with omission successively of the substrate, MTT tetrazolium, purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), xanthine oxidase (XO), NaCl, boiling for 20 min prior to fixation and incubation, and of incubation of sections with two powerful inhibitors of the enzyme, i.e., 2'-deoxycoformycin and EHNA [erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine.HCl]. The positive reaction consisted of the deposition of brownish-purple granules, as well as a diffuse nongranular reaction in the cytoplasm of neurons and glial cells, and in the interstitial spaces. Sections from 15 different areas in four brains were examined by this method. This is the first time that adenosine deaminase has been demonstrated histochemically in the nervous system of humans or of any other species.