2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase activity in rat visual pathways with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

The enzyme 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (CNPase) is one of the important markers for myelin synthesis or demyelination. We measured the CNPase activities in the visual pathway tissues of Lewis strain rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by inoculation of myelin basic protein from the brain. The enzyme activities in the retina, optic nerve, optic chiasma and lateral geniculate body were reduced to about 50-80% of that of controls at 15 days after myelin basic protein inoculation when symptoms of EAE were most severe. However, the activities recovered at 19 days except in the retina when the symptoms of EAE disappeared. Furthermore, the activities of the optic nerve and chiasma increased to a level higher than that of the controls at this time. By histopathological study, infiltration of inflammatory cells and focal demyelination were found in the optic nerve and lumbar spinal cord at 15 days after myelin basic protein inoculation. It was considered that the reduction of CNPase activity and its recovery and increase reflect demyelination and activation of oligodendroglia for remyelination, respectively.