Immunohistochemistry of neuron-specific enolase in neurons of the medulla oblongata from human autopsies

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a glycolytic enzyme specifically expressed in neurons. NSE has been used as a marker for neuronal damage in brain injury. We studied the immunohistochemical localization of this enzyme in the medulla oblongata obtained from human forensic autopsy specimens. Neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of vagal nerve expressed statistically significantly less NSE immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm than in the hypoglossal nucleus (XII), solitary nucleus, spinal trigeminal nucleus, and lateral cuneate nucleus. Cases of carbon monoxide intoxication by burning showed a higher incidence of NSE immunoreactivity in the cell nucleus of the XII than other cases, while there was no statistically significant correlation between NSE immunoreactivity in the cell nucleus and the Nissl amount. This indicates that the accumulation of NSE immunoreactivity in the cell nucleus might be a vital reaction rather than a postmortem artifact.