Human beta-trace in normal and pathological CNS tissues, genital organs and body fluids.

The function of BTP is still unknown. In CNS, the high amount of BTP in the white CNS matter and the glial cells as well as in genital organs of the stroma of epididymis suggest that BTP has a supportive function. Slight evidence of a synthesis in patients with MS and slightly increased CSF values in stroke patients may suggest that BTP is involved in repair mechanism of damaged brain tissue, or may be related from destroyed brain tissue. In samples of CSF, determination of BTP could be of value as differentiating glial cell tumors from tumors of other kinds, as well as the recently suggested diagnostic value of the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (20). However, also other functions of BTP has been suggested. (21, 22).