2', 3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase activity in postmortem human spinal fluids.

The activity of the myelination-related enzyme, 2', 3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphohydrolase (CNP), was determined in neurologically normal living and postmortem human spinal fluids, for the purpose of examining the differences in enzymatic activity level and stability. A significant elevation of the enzymatic activity was found in the postmortem samples, and the activity in spinal fluid was labile with respect to postmortem time and sample storage conditions. Findings suggest that caution should be exercised in the interpretation of CNP activity in spinal fluid samples.