Superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in infantile, late infantile and juvenile neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis.

The neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinoses are characterized by a widespread deposit in the body of pigments believed to be end products of lipid peroxidation damaged organelles. CuZn superoxide dismutase, Mn superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase, enzymes which conceivably might protect against lipid peroxidation, were investigated in blood cells from patients afflicted with infantile, late infantile and juvenile neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis. In some cases the enzymic activities were slightly lower than the activities of the controls, but no deficiencies which might be of etiolgical importance were revealed.