A comparative immunohistochemical study on striatal Met-enkephalin expression in Alzheimer's disease and in progressive supranuclear palsy.

Using a sensitive immunoperoxidase technique we examined Met-enkephalin (MEnk) expression in the striatum and globus pallidus external segment (GPe) from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). In AD patients strong MEnk-like immunoreactivity was persistent in the striatum showing so-called "striosomes". In addition, a number of typical "woolly fibers" were observed in the GPe. MEnk-positive striosomes were also visible in the striatum of PSP patients and were similar to those of normal controls and of AD patients. However, the MEnk-positive "woolly fibers" appearance was less well recognizable in the GPe from all the PSP patients examined.