Proteins of rat brain myelin in neonatal hypothyroidism.

The amount of myelin and its protein composition was studied in hypothyroid rats during the first 30 days after birth. Although the brain weight was 92% of that in the controls, the yield of myelin in hypothyroid animals was only 60% of that in controls. The protein and glycoprotein ocmposition of the isolated myelin was similar in hypothyroid and control rats. The 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (CNP) activity in whole brain from hypothyroid animals was only 60% of the controls and reflected the decrease in myelin formation. In isolated myelin the specific activity of CNP was not different in hypothyroid and control animals with the exception of very immature animals (10 days). The major fucose-labeled glycoprotein in myelin of the hypothyroid rats had a slightly higher apparent molecular weight than that in myelin from age matched controls, probably reflecting a retardation of brain maturation and myelin formation.