<i>N</i>‐ACETYL‐<scp>l</scp>‐ASPARTIC ACID CONTENT OF HUMAN NEURAL TUMOURS AND BOVINE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS TISSUES

Abstract

Abstract— Abstract‐Tumors of the human nervous system were utilized to investigate the cellular distribution of N‐acetyl‐L‐aspartic acid (NAA). Astroglial tumours contained about 0.144 μmol/g. Oligodendrogliomas and medulloblastomas contained somewhat larger amounts. However, the level of NAA in all gliomas studied was less than that of normal human white matter. NAA was undetectable in meningiomas and acoustic neurinomas. If these results may be taken as representative of normal tissue, they imply a predominantly neuronal localization for NAA. Substantial amounts of NAA were found in peripheral nervous tissues and retina. Neurons seem to vary widely in NAA content.