Mutations of the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) gene were recently implicated in the pathogenesis of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We measured SOD-1 mRNA levels in motorneurons of the more common sporadic form of the disease and found a 42% increase in ALS motorneurons (P = 0.058) as compared with controls. These results suggest that oxidative stress may also play a role in the pathogenesis of sporadic ALS.