Isolated nerve endings (synaptosomes) that show high rates of metabolic activity have been prepared up to 24 h postmortem from the brains of patients who have died suddenly. In contrast, similar preparations from brains of patients dying after a prolonged terminal illness showed little or no respiration. These data suggest that the agonal state of the patient is of major importance when investigating specific defects in neurotransmitter function in cerebral disorders and effects of neuroactive drugs on human tissue.

A case of miliary tuberculosis associated with two different forms of cutaneous tuberculosis and a negative Heaf tuberculin test is reported. The value of skin biopsy and culture in helping to establish an early diagnosis is discussed. The unusual finding of a negative Heaf tuberculin test is commented upon.

Synaptosomes isolated from post mortem human brain release the transmitter amino acids upon depolarisation. Active preparations can be isolated for up to 24 hours post mortem. The amount of depolarisation-induced release of the transmitter amino acids is correlated with the rate of oxygen uptake. Only when this correlation is taken into consideration would it be possible to detect disease-related changes in presynaptic amino-acid transport systems.