Sulfatide is expressed in neurons and astrocytes and accumulates at degradation deficiency

Sulfatide expression was explored in adult rat gray matter, using the Sulf I antibody and immunohistochemistry. To further explore sulfatide metabolism an arylsulfatase enzyme deficient mice model were used, resembling metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) characterized by lysosomal sulfatide storage. Analyses showed sulfatide staining in subpopulations of neurons and astrocytes, and in particular the neurons showed more staining in the ASA-deficient mice, indicating a higher turnover of sulfatide. These results demonstrate sulfatide expression beyond myelin and oligodendrocyte progenitors, and the intracellular localized sulfatide in neurons and astrocytes indicate other roles than in myelin. The accumulation of sulfatide in neurons might be part of the pathological process in MLD and explain known symptoms unlikely to be related to the well-established white matter disturbances.