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Giron C, Hélie P, Parent J, Boutin M, St-Jean G. Clinical, imaging and histopathological characterization of a series of three cats with cerebellar cortical degeneration. BMC Vet Res 2024; 20:263. [PMID: 38890680 PMCID: PMC11186075 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-04127-3] [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: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurological inherited disorders are rare in domestic animals. Cerebellar cortical degeneration remains amongst the most common of these disorders. The condition is defined as the premature loss of fully differentiated cerebellar components due to genetic or metabolic defects. It has been studied in dogs and cats, and various genetic defects and diagnostic tests (including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) have been refined in these species. Cases in cats remain rare and mostly individual, and few diagnostic criteria, other than post-mortem exam, have been evaluated in reports with multiple cases. Here, we report three feline cases of cerebellar cortical degeneration with detailed clinical, diagnostic imaging and post-mortem findings. CASE PRESENTATION The three cases were directly (siblings, case #1 and #2) or indirectly related (same farm, case #3) and showed early-onset of the disease, with clinical signs including cerebellar ataxia and tremors. Brain MRI was highly suggestive of cerebellar cortical degeneration on all three cases. The relative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space, relative cerebellum size, brainstem: cerebellum area ratio, and cerebellum: total brain area ratio, were measured and compared to a control group of cats and reference cut-offs for dogs in the literature. For the relative cerebellum size and cerebellum: total brain area ratio, all affected cases had a lower value than the control group. For the relative CSF space and brainstem: cerebellum area ratio, the more affected cases (#2 and #3) had higher values than the control group, while the least affected case (#3) had values within the ranges of the control group, but a progression was visible over time. Post-mortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of cerebellar cortical degeneration, with marked to complete loss of Purkinje cells and associated granular layer depletion and proliferation of Bergmann glia. One case also had Wallerian-like degeneration in the spinal cord, suggestive of spinocerebellar degeneration. CONCLUSION Our report further supports a potential genetic component for the disease in cats. For the MRI examination, the relative cerebellum size and cerebellum: total brain area ratio seem promising, but further studies are needed to establish specific feline cut-offs. Post-mortem evaluation of the cerebellum remains the gold standard for the final diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Giron
- Department of clinical sciences, Faculty of veterinary medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Pierre Hélie
- Department of pathology and microbiology, Faculty of veterinary medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Joane Parent
- Department of clinical sciences, Faculty of veterinary medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Mathieu Boutin
- Department of clinical sciences, Faculty of veterinary medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Guillaume St-Jean
- Department of pathology and microbiology, Faculty of veterinary medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 2M2, Canada.
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Scott EY, Penedo MCT, Murray JD, Finno CJ. Defining Trends in Global Gene Expression in Arabian Horses with Cerebellar Abiotrophy. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2017; 16:462-472. [PMID: 27709457 PMCID: PMC5336519 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-016-0823-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Equine cerebellar abiotrophy (CA) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease that affects the Purkinje neurons of the cerebellum and causes ataxia in Arabian foals. Signs of CA are typically first recognized either at birth to any time up to 6 months of age. CA is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and is associated with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on equine chromosome 2 (13074277G>A), located in the fourth exon of TOE1 and in proximity to MUTYH on the antisense strand. We hypothesize that unraveling the functional consequences of the CA SNP using RNA-seq will elucidate the molecular pathways underlying the CA phenotype. RNA-seq (100 bp PE strand-specific) was performed in cerebellar tissue from four CA-affected and five age-matched unaffected horses. Three pipelines for differential gene expression (DE) analysis were used (Tophat2/Cuffdiff2, Kallisto/EdgeR, and Kallisto/Sleuth) with 151 significant DE genes identified by all three pipelines in CA-affected horses. TOE1 (Log2(foldchange) = 0.92, p = 0.66) and MUTYH (Log2(foldchange) = 1.13, p = 0.66) were not differentially expressed. Among the major pathways that were differentially expressed, genes associated with calcium homeostasis and specifically expressed in Purkinje neurons, CALB1 (Log2(foldchange) = -1.7, p < 0.01) and CA8 (Log2(foldchange) = -0.97, p < 0.01), were significantly down-regulated, confirming loss of Purkinje neurons. There was also a significant up-regulation of markers for microglial phagocytosis, TYROBP (Log2(foldchange) = 1.99, p < 0.01) and TREM2 (Log2(foldchange) = 2.02, p < 0.01). These findings reaffirm a loss of Purkinje neurons in CA-affected horses along with a potential secondary loss of granular neurons and activation of microglial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Y Scott
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - M C T Penedo
- Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA
| | - J D Murray
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, USA.
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA.
| | - C J Finno
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA.
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Tsuboi M, Watanabe M, Nibe K, Yoshimi N, Kato A, Sakaguchi M, Yamato O, Tanaka M, Kuwamura M, Kushida K, Ishikura T, Harada T, Chambers JK, Sugano S, Uchida K, Nakayama H. Identification of the PLA2G6 c.1579G>A Missense Mutation in Papillon Dog Neuroaxonal Dystrophy Using Whole Exome Sequencing Analysis. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169002. [PMID: 28107443 PMCID: PMC5249094 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole exome sequencing (WES) has become a common tool for identifying genetic causes of human inherited disorders, and it has also recently been applied to canine genome research. We conducted WES analysis of neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD), a neurodegenerative disease that sporadically occurs worldwide in Papillon dogs. The disease is considered an autosomal recessive monogenic disease, which is histopathologically characterized by severe axonal swelling, known as “spheroids,” throughout the nervous system. By sequencing all eleven DNA samples from one NAD-affected Papillon dog and her parents, two unrelated NAD-affected Papillon dogs, and six unaffected control Papillon dogs, we identified 10 candidate mutations. Among them, three candidates were determined to be “deleterious” by in silico pathogenesis evaluation. By subsequent massive screening by TaqMan genotyping analysis, only the PLA2G6 c.1579G>A mutation had an association with the presence or absence of the disease, suggesting that it may be a causal mutation of canine NAD. As a human homologue of this gene is a causative gene for infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy, this canine phenotype may serve as a good animal model for human disease. The results of this study also indicate that WES analysis is a powerful tool for exploring canine hereditary diseases, especially in rare monogenic hereditary diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Tsuboi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Manabu Watanabe
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazumi Nibe
- Japan Animal Referral Medical Center, Kanagawa, Japan
| | | | | | - Masahiro Sakaguchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology I, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Osamu Yamato
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Miyuu Tanaka
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Kuwamura
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuya Kushida
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Takashi Ishikura
- Thermo Fisher Scientific, Life Technologies Japan Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Harada
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - James Kenn Chambers
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sumio Sugano
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Uchida
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Hiroyuki Nakayama
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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D'Alessio L, Pinto A, Cangelosi A, Geoghegan PA, Tironi-Farinati C, Brener GJ, Goldstein J. Sub-Lethal Dose of Shiga Toxin 2 from Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Affects Balance and Cerebellar Cytoarchitecture. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:133. [PMID: 26904009 PMCID: PMC4748033 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli may damage the central nervous system before or concomitantly to manifested hemolytic–uremic syndrome symptoms. The cerebellum is frequently damaged during this syndrome, however, the deleterious effects of Shiga toxin 2 has never been integrally reported by ultrastructural, physiological and behavioral means. The aim of this study was to determine the cerebellar compromise after intravenous administration of a sub-lethal dose of Shiga toxin 2 by measuring the cerebellar blood–brain barrier permeability, behavioral task of cerebellar functionality (inclined plane test), and ultrastructural analysis (transmission electron microscope). Intravenous administration of vehicle (control group), sub-lethal dose of 0.5 and 1 ηg of Stx2 per mouse were tested for behavioral and ultrastructural studies. A set of three independent experiments were performed for each study (n = 6). Blood–brain barrier resulted damaged and consequently its permeability was significantly increased. Lower scores obtained in the inclined plane task denoted poor cerebellar functionality in comparison to their controls. The most significant lower score was obtained after 5 days of 1 ηg of toxin administration. Transmission electron microscope micrographs from the Stx2-treated groups showed neurons with a progressive neurodegenerative condition in a dose dependent manner. As sub-lethal intravenous Shiga toxin 2 altered the blood brain barrier permeability in the cerebellum the toxin penetrated the cerebellar parenchyma and produced cell damaged with significant functional implications in the test balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana D'Alessio
- Centro de Epilepsia, Hospital Ramos Mejía and Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. E. De Robertis, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alipio Pinto
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatología, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofisica "HOUSSAY", Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adriana Cangelosi
- Centro Nacional de Control de Calidad de Biológicos, Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud Dr. Carlos G. Malbran Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Patricia A Geoghegan
- Centro Nacional de Control de Calidad de Biológicos, Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud Dr. Carlos G. Malbran Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla Tironi-Farinati
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatología, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofisica "HOUSSAY", Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela J Brener
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatología, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofisica "HOUSSAY", Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jorge Goldstein
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiopatología, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofisica "HOUSSAY", Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Sato J, Yamada N, Kobayashi R, Tsuchitani M, Kobayashi Y. Morphometric analysis of progressive changes in hereditary cerebellar cortical degenerative disease (abiotrophy) in rabbits caused by abnormal synaptogenesis. J Toxicol Pathol 2015; 28:73-8. [PMID: 26028816 PMCID: PMC4444505 DOI: 10.1293/tox.2014-0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously investigated rabbit hereditary cerebellar cortical degenerative disease, called cerebellar cortical abiotrophy in the veterinary field, and determined that the pathogenesis of this disease is the result of failed synaptogenesis between parallel fibers and Purkinje cells. In this study, longitudinal changes in the development and atrophy of the cerebellum of rabbits with hereditary abiotrophy after birth were morphometrically examined (postnatal day [PD] 15 and 42) using image analysis. Although development of the cerebellum in rabbits with abiotrophy was observed from PD 15 to PD 42, the growth rate of the cerebellum was less than that in normal rabbits. In rabbits with abiotrophy, the number of granular cells undergoing apoptosis was significantly higher at PD 15 and dramatically decreased at PD 42. The number of granular cells did not increase from PD 15 to 42. The synaptogenesis peak at PD 15 occurred when the largest number of apoptotic granular cells in rabbits with abiotrophy was observed. Although 26% to 36% of parallel fiber terminals formed synaptic junctions with Purkinje cell spines, the remainder did not at PD 15 and 42. The rate of failure of synaptogenesis in the present study might be specific to this case of abiotrophy. Morphometric analysis revealed detailed changes in development and atrophy in animals with postnatal cerebellar disease occurring soon after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junko Sato
- LSI Medience Corporation, 14-1 Sunayama, Kamisu, Ibaraki 314-0255, Japan
| | - Naoaki Yamada
- LSI Medience Corporation, 14-1 Sunayama, Kamisu, Ibaraki 314-0255, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Kobayashi
- LSI Medience Corporation, 14-1 Sunayama, Kamisu, Ibaraki 314-0255, Japan
| | - Minoru Tsuchitani
- LSI Medience Corporation, 14-1 Sunayama, Kamisu, Ibaraki 314-0255, Japan
| | - Yoshiyasu Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Division of Pathological Science, Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
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Sato J, Sasaki S, Yamada N, Tsuchitani M. Early morphological changes of hereditary cerebellar cortical abiotrophy in rabbits. J Vet Med Sci 2013. [PMID: 23182865 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.12-0232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously investigated the hereditary cerebellar cortical abiotrophy in littermates at postnatal day (PD) 25-31 delivered from a pair of rabbits. To estimate the onset time and incipient lesions associated with the cerebellar cortical abiotrophy of the cases, we mated the same pair again and examined early stages of the disease in F1 rabbit showing ataxia (PD 15), finding evidence that the ataxia is passed to subsequent generations via autosomal recessive inheritance. Clinical signs of the affected rabbit showed early-onset dysstasia and ataxia. The affected rabbit showed apoptotic granular cells before and after migration completion, degeneration (swelling) of parallel fiber terminals, abnormal junction (invaginated junction) of the parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses and irregular orientation of the Purkinje dendritic arbor in the molecular layer. Additionally, a reduced number of synaptic junctions between parallel fibers and Purkinje cells were detected, as well as at PD 25-31. Secondary changes, such as reduction or degeneration of Purkinje cells and granular cells were not yet observed at early stages. As synapse abnormality preceded the degeneration or reduction of Purkinje and granular cells at early stages, we concluded that the pathogenesis of the present cerebellar lesion was caused by failed synaptogenesis during postnatal cerebellar development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junko Sato
- Pathology Department, Kashima Laboratory, Nonclinical Research Center, Mitsubishi Chemical Medience Corporation, 14-1 Sunayama, Kamisu, Ibaraki, Japan.
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LoPresti EF, Brienza DM. Adaptive software for head-operated computer controls. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2004; 12:102-11. [PMID: 15068193 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2003.822762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Head-operated computer controls provide an alternative means of computer access for people with disabilities who are unable to use a standard mouse. However, a person's disability may limit his or her neck movements as well as upper extremity movements. Software was developed which automatically adjusts the interface sensitivity to the needs of a particular user. This adaptive software was evaluated in two stages. First, 16 novice head-control users with spinal-cord injury or multiple sclerosis used head controls with and without the adaptive software. The adaptive software was associated with increased speed in standardized icon selection exercises (p < 0.05). A small increase in accuracy was also observed. In addition, five current head-control users evaluated the software in a real-world setting. One of these five subjects perceived an improvement in comparison to his current head-control system.
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