Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis: isolation of storage material.

We used ultracentrifugation to isolate autofluorescent storage particles from the brains of patients with infantile type of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (Haltia-Santavuori). The particles differed from those of the late infantile (Jansky-Bielschowsky) and juvenile (Batten-Spielmeyer-Sjögren) types and retained the characteristic appearance--large, partly membrane-bound conglomerates of spherical globules with a uniform finely granular internal structure--despite the vigorous procedure. The sedimentation properties of the particles also differed from the two other forms, but dolichols are found in the particles of all three diseases.