Ribonuclease activity of human cerebrospinal fluid.

The ribonuclease activity of cerebrospinal fluid of 219 patients was studied. The normal level was 269 +/- 95 units/ml. Consistent elevations above 550 units/ml were found in: 1. Chronic cerebrovascular disease; 2. Spinal cord compression; 3. Tumors. The molecular weights of the ribonucleases in the cerebrospinal fluid are approximately 33,000; 21,000 and 15,000; the major species is the one with m.w. 33,000. Although the increase in the CSF ribonuclease activity is not disease specific, the measurement has provided corroborative help in cases when the CSF protein is normal. The increase in CSF RNAase is not due to red or white blood cells and the immunologic data suggest that the CSF enzyme activity is derived from the blood stream. Further studies are necessary to rule out a nerve cell origin of the CSF ribonuclease activity.