Characterization of polysomes purified from human postmortem brain tissues.

Author(s): Långström NS, Eriksson A, Winblad BG, Wallace WC

Publication: Neurochem Int, 1990, Vol. 16, Page 147-56

PubMed ID: 20504552 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to determine the effects PMI (3-14 h), patient age (18-94 y), and rapidity of death on polysome yield, size or activity in the frontal cortex and cerebellum.

   Summary of Findings:

   Frontal cortex polysomal yield varied greatly between specimens (1.1-2.3 OD26)/g tissue) and no significant effect of patient age or PMI was identified. For instance, the frontal cortex of the specimen with the shortest PMI (3 h) had the same yield as a specimen with a PMI of 14 h. The frontal cortex from an 18 y old yielded 1.7 OD260/g tissue which was equal to the average value for the other rapid death cases (average age 68 y), while the group of individuals characterized as having a slow death had a comparable average frontal cortex polysome yield of 1.6 OD260/g. Translational activity of the isolated polysomes from frontal cortex (0.328 pCi/OD260) independent of rapidity of death, patient age or PMI. Polysome yield from cerebella was only 50% of that from frontal cortex but trends observed in frontal cortex appear to be true for cerebella as well. Polysomes varied in size from monosomes to hexasomes but size did not correlate with patient age, PMI or rapidity of death. The authors conclude the PMI, patient age and rapidity of death do not impact polysome yield, size or activity.

   Biospecimens

   • Tissue - Brain

   Preservative Types

   • Frozen

   Diagnoses:

   • Autopsy
   • Cardiovascular Disease
   • Pneumonia/Respiratory Infection
   • Asthma
   • Other diagnoses

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   RNA	Spectrophotometry
   Protein	Spectrophotometry
   RNA	In vitro translation
   Protein	Enzyme assay

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Preaquisition	Patient age	18 y 48 y 60 y 64 y 69 y 70 y 73 y 83 y 84 y 94 y
   Preaquisition	Postmortem interval	3 h 4 h 5 h 6 h 7 h 9 h 12 h 14 h
   Preaquisition	Rapidity of death	Rapid death Slow death characterized by multi-infarct dementia
   Biospecimen Acquisition	Biospecimen location	Frontal cortex Cerebella

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