Figure 5

Alterations of axonal cytoskeleton are suggested by markedly increased levels of phosphorylated medium and heavy chains of neurofilament [NF (M+H)P] in MS lesions. Relative levels of NF (M+H)P are markedly increased in MS lesions in (A) brain and spinal (B) cord compared to control values. Control tissue displays two distinct bands corresponding to 160-kD medium and 200-kD heavy neurofilament chains. In contrast, MS lesions show bands that cannot be clearly distinguished due to hyperphosphorylation. Representative blots are shown from a total of 5 experiments analyzing 39 MS cases and 19 controls. Relative levels of NF(M+H)P/GAPDH are estimated by densitometry. Mean values ± SD are shown in corresponding graphs.