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Prior-González M, Lazo-Gómez R, Tapia R. Sodium butyrate does not protect spinal motor neurons from AMPA-induced excitotoxic degeneration in vivo. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm049851. [PMID: 37756598 PMCID: PMC10581382 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron (MN) loss is the primary pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) is one of several factors involved in nerve-muscle communication during MN loss, hindering muscle reinnervation, as shown in humans and in animal models of ALS, and may explain the differential progression observed in patients with ALS - rapid versus slow progression. In this work, we inhibited HDAC4 activity through the administration of a pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor, sodium butyrate, in an in vivo model of chronic spinal MN death induced by AMPA-mediated excitotoxicity. We infused AMPA into the spinal cord at low and high doses, which mimic the rapid and slow progression observed in humans, respectively. We found that muscle HDAC4 expression was increased by high-dose infusion of AMPA. Treatment of animals with sodium butyrate further decreased expression of muscle HDAC4, although non-significantly, and did not prevent the paralysis or the MN loss induced by AMPA infusion. These results inform on the role of muscle HDAC4 in MN degeneration in vivo and provide insights for the search for more suitable therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Prior-González
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Rafael Lazo-Gómez
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Tapia
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
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Ramirez-Jarquin UN, Lopez-Huerta VG, Tapia R. Characterization of Mitochondria Degeneration in Spinal Motor Neurons Triggered by Chronic Over-activation of α-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methylisoxazole-4-Propionic Acid Receptors in the Rat Spinal Cord in Vivo. Neuroscience 2023; 521:31-43. [PMID: 37085005 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial damage is a central mechanism involved in neurological disorders as Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Energy production is the most studied mitochondrial function; however, mitochondria are also involved in processes like calcium buffering homeostasis, and cell death control during apoptosis and necrosis. Using transmission electron microscopy, in this in vivo study in male rats, we describe ultrastructural mitochondrial alterations of spinal motor neurons along chronic AMPA-induced excitotoxicity, which has been described as one of the most relevant mechanisms in ALS disease. Mitochondrial alterations begin with a crest swelling, which progresses to a full mitochondrial swelling and crest disruption. Changes on the mitochondrial morphology from elongated to a circular shape also occur along the AMPA-excitotoxicity process. In addition, by combining the TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry for mitochondrial enzymes, we show evidence of mitochondrial DNA damage. Evidence of mitochondrial alterations during an AMPA-excitotoxic event is relevant because resembles the mitochondrial alterations previously reported in ALS patients and in transgenic familial ALS models, suggesting that a chronic excitotoxic model can be related to sporadic ALS (as has been shown in recent papers), which represent more than the 90% of the ALS cases. Understanding the mechanisms involved in motor neuron degenerative process, such as the ultrastructural mitochondrial changes permits to design strategies for MN-degeneration treatments in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uri Nimrod Ramirez-Jarquin
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez", Juan Badiano 1, Belisario Domínguez Secc 16, Tlalpan, 14080 México City, Mexico; División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510-Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| | - Violeta Gisselle Lopez-Huerta
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510-Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Tapia
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510-Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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Colín E, Ramírez-Jarquín UN, Tapia R. Early motor deficits in the phalangeal fine movements induced by chronic AMPA infusion in the rat spinal cord assessed by a novel method: Phalangeal tension recording test. Neurosci Lett 2020; 739:135411. [PMID: 33086093 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Motor behavior alterations are a shared hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases affecting motor circuits, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases. In patients and transgenic animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis fine movements controlled by distal muscles are the first to be affected, but its study and knowledge remain poorly understood, mainly because most of the tests used for describing the motor alterations are focused on the function of proximal muscles and gross movements. In this study we demonstrate that alterations of phalangeal fine movements can be quantitatively evaluated using a novel procedure designed by us, phalangeal tension recording test, which showed high sensitivity to detect such alterations. The evaluation was carried out during the motor neuron (MN) degenerative process induced by the acute and chronic overactivation of AMPA receptors in the lumbar rat spinal cord, using previously described models. The new method allowed the quantification of significant alterations of the fine movements of the hindpaws phalanges when AMPA was infused in the lumbar segment controlling the distal muscles, but not when a more rostral spinal segment was infused, and these alterations were not detected by the rotarod or the stride tests. These changes occurred before the paralysis of the hindlimbs. Studying the early distal motor alterations before the total paralysis at late stages is essential for understanding the initial consequences of MN degeneration and therefore for designing new strategies for the control, treatment and prevention of MN diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Colín
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Uri Nimrod Ramírez-Jarquín
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Tapia
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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Giusto E, Codrich M, Leo G, Francardo V, Coradazzi M, Parenti R, Gulisano M, Vicario N, Gulino R, Leanza G. Compensatory changes in degenerating spinal motoneurons sustain functional sparing in the SOD1‐G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Comp Neurol 2019; 528:231-243. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.24751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Giusto
- B.R.A.I.N. Laboratory for Neurogenesis and Repair, Department of Life Sciences University of Trieste Trieste Italy
| | - Marta Codrich
- B.R.A.I.N. Laboratory for Neurogenesis and Repair, Department of Life Sciences University of Trieste Trieste Italy
| | - Gioacchino Leo
- B.R.A.I.N. Laboratory for Neurogenesis and Repair, Department of Life Sciences University of Trieste Trieste Italy
| | - Veronica Francardo
- B.R.A.I.N. Laboratory for Neurogenesis and Repair, Department of Life Sciences University of Trieste Trieste Italy
| | - Marino Coradazzi
- B.R.A.I.N. Laboratory for Neurogenesis and Repair, Department of Life Sciences University of Trieste Trieste Italy
| | - Rosalba Parenti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Physiology Section University of Catania Catania Italy
- Molecular Preclinical and Translational Imaging Research Centre ‐ IMPRonTE University of Catania Italy
| | - Massimo Gulisano
- Molecular Preclinical and Translational Imaging Research Centre ‐ IMPRonTE University of Catania Italy
- Department of Drug Sciences University of Catania Catania Italy
| | - Nunzio Vicario
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Physiology Section University of Catania Catania Italy
| | - Rosario Gulino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Physiology Section University of Catania Catania Italy
- Molecular Preclinical and Translational Imaging Research Centre ‐ IMPRonTE University of Catania Italy
| | - Giampiero Leanza
- B.R.A.I.N. Laboratory for Neurogenesis and Repair, Department of Life Sciences University of Trieste Trieste Italy
- Molecular Preclinical and Translational Imaging Research Centre ‐ IMPRonTE University of Catania Italy
- Department of Drug Sciences University of Catania Catania Italy
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Netzahualcoyotzi C, Tapia R. Tetanus toxin C-fragment protects against excitotoxic spinal motoneuron degeneration in vivo. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16584. [PMID: 30410110 PMCID: PMC6224557 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35027-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The tetanus toxin C-fragment is a non-toxic peptide that can be transported from peripheral axons into spinal motoneurons. In in vitro experiments it has been shown that this peptide activates signaling pathways associated with Trk receptors, leading to cellular survival. Because motoneuron degeneration is the main pathological hallmark in motoneuron diseases, and excitotoxicity is an important mechanism of neuronal death in this type of disorders, in this work we tested whether the tetanus toxin C-fragment is able to protect MN in the spinal cord in vivo. For this purpose, we administered the peptide to rats subjected to excitotoxic motoneuron degeneration induced by the chronic infusion of AMPA in the rat lumbar spinal cord, a well-established model developed in our laboratory. Because the intraspinal infusion of the fragment was only weakly effective, whereas the i.m. administration was remarkably neuroprotective, and because the i.m. injection of an inhibitor of Trk receptors diminished the protection, we conclude that such effects require a retrograde signaling from the neuromuscular junction to the spinal motoneurons. The protection after a simple peripheral route of administration of the fragment suggests a potential therapeutic use of this peptide to target spinal MNs exposed to excitotoxic conditions in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Citlalli Netzahualcoyotzi
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| | - Ricardo Tapia
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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Ramírez-Jarquín UN, Tapia R. Excitatory and Inhibitory Neuronal Circuits in the Spinal Cord and Their Role in the Control of Motor Neuron Function and Degeneration. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:211-216. [PMID: 29350907 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex neuronal networks of the spinal cord coordinate a wide variety of motor functions, including walking, running, and voluntary and involuntary movements. This is accomplished by different groups of neurons, called center pattern generators, which control left-right alternation and flexor-extensor patterns. These spinal circuits, located in the ventral horns, are formed by several neuronal types, and the specific function of most of them has been identified by means of studies in vivo and in the isolated spinal cord of mice harboring genetically induced ablation of specific neuronal populations. These studies have shown that the coordinated activity of several interneuron types, mainly GABAergic and glycinergic inhibitory neurons, have a crucial role in the modulation of motor neurons activity that finally excites the corresponding muscles. A pharmacological experimental approach by administering in the spinal cord agonists and antagonists of glutamate, GABA, glycine, and acetylcholine receptors to alter their synaptic action has also produced important results, linking the deficits in the synaptic function with the resulting motor alterations. These results have also increased the knowledge of the mechanisms of motor neuron degeneration, which is characteristic of diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and therefore open the possibility of designing new strategies for the prevention and treatment of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uri Nimrod Ramírez-Jarquín
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510-Ciudad de México, México
| | - Ricardo Tapia
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510-Ciudad de México, México
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Lazo-Gomez R, Tapia R. Quercetin prevents spinal motor neuron degeneration induced by chronic excitotoxic stimulus by a sirtuin 1-dependent mechanism. Transl Neurodegener 2017; 6:31. [PMID: 29201361 PMCID: PMC5697078 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-017-0102-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Excitotoxicity is a mechanism of foremost importance in the selective motor neuron degeneration characteristic of motor neuron disorders. Effective therapeutic strategies are an unmet need for these disorders. Polyphenols, such as quercetin and resveratrol, are plant-derived compounds that activate sirtuins (SIRTs) and have shown promising results in some models of neuronal death, although their effects have been scarcely tested in models of motor neuron degeneration. Methods In this work we investigated the effects of quercetin and resveratrol in an in vivo model of excitotoxic motor neuron death induced by the chronic infusion of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) into the rat spinal cord tissue. Quercetin and resveratrol were co-infused with AMPA and motor behavior and muscle strength were assessed daily for up to ten days. Then, animals were fixed and lumbar spinal cord tissue was analyzed by histological and immunocytological procedures. Results We found that the chronic infusion of AMPA [1 mM] caused a progressive motor neuron degeneration, accompanied by astrogliosis and microgliosis, and motor deficits and paralysis of the rear limbs. Quercetin infusion ameliorated AMPA-induced paralysis, rescued motor neurons, and prevented both astrogliosis and microgliosis, and these protective effects were prevented by EX527, a very selective SIRT1 inhibitor. In contrast, neither resveratrol nor EX527 alone improved motor behavior deficits or reduced motor neuron degeneration, albeit both reduced gliosis. Conclusions These results suggest that quercetin exerts its beneficial effects through a SIRT1-mediated mechanism, and thus SIRT1 plays an important role in excitotoxic neurodegeneration and therefore its pharmacological modulation might provide opportunities for therapy in motor neuron disorders. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40035-017-0102-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Lazo-Gomez
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Tapia
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Ramírez-Jarquín UN, Tapia R. Chronic GABAergic blockade in the spinal cord in vivo induces motor alterations and neurodegeneration. Neuropharmacology 2017; 117:85-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.01.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Ramírez-Jarquín UN, Rojas F, van Zundert B, Tapia R. Chronic infusion of SOD1 G93A astrocyte-secreted factors induces spinal motoneuron degeneration and neuromuscular dysfunction in healthy rats. J Cell Physiol 2017; 232:2610-2615. [PMID: 28128448 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal neurodegenerative disease and studies in vitro show that motoneuron degeneration is triggered by non-cell-autonomous mechanisms. However, whether soluble toxic factor(s) released by mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) expressing astrocytes induces death of motoneurons and leads to motor dysfunction in vivo is not known. To directly test this, healthy adult rats were treated with conditioned media derived from primary mouse astrocytes (ACM) that express human (h) SOD1G93A (ACM-hG93A) via chronic osmotic pump infusion in the lumbar spinal cord. Controls included ACM derived from transgenic mice expressing hSOD1WT (ACM-hWT) or non-transgenic mouse SOD1WT (ACM-WT) astrocytes. Rats chronically infused with ACM-hG93A started to develop motor dysfunction at 8 days, as measured by rotarod performance. Additionally, immunohistochemical analyses at day 16 revealed reactive astrogliosis and significant loss of motoneurons in the ventral horn of the infused region. Controls did not show significant motor behavior alterations or neuronal damage. Thus, we demonstrate that factors released in vitro from astrocytes derived from ALS mice cause spinal motoneuron death and consequent neuromuscular dysfunction in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uri N Ramírez-Jarquín
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Fabiola Rojas
- Center for Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Brigitte van Zundert
- Center for Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biological Sciences and Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ricardo Tapia
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
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