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Kabakov SA, Crary E, Menna V, Razo ER, Eickhoff JC, Dulaney NR, Drew JR, Bach KM, Poole AM, Stumpf M, Mitzey AM, Malicki KB, Schotzko ML, Pickett KA, Schultz-Darken NJ, Emborg ME, O'Connor DH, Golos TG, Mohr EL, Ausderau KK. Quantification of early gait development: Expanding the application of Catwalk technology to an infant rhesus macaque model. J Neurosci Methods 2023; 388:109811. [PMID: 36739916 PMCID: PMC10191118 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding gait development is essential for identifying motor impairments in neurodevelopmental disorders. Defining typical gait development in a rhesus macaque model is critical prior to characterizing abnormal gait. The goal of this study was to 1) explore the feasibility of using the Noldus Catwalk to assess gait in infant rhesus macaques and 2) provide preliminary normative data of gait development during the first month of life. NEW METHOD The Noldus Catwalk was used to assess gait speed, dynamic and static paw measurements, and interlimb coordination in twelve infant rhesus macaques at 14, 21, and 28 days of age. All macaque runs were labeled as a diagonal or non-diagonal walking pattern. RESULTS Infant rhesus macaques primarily used a diagonal (mature) walking pattern as early as 14 days of life. Ten infant rhesus macaques (83.3%) were able to successfully walk across the Noldus Catwalk at 28 days of life. Limited differences in gait parameters were observed between timepoints because of the variability within the group at 14, 21, and 28 days. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS No prior gait analysis system has been used to provide objective quantification of gait parameters for infant macaques. CONCLUSIONS The Catwalk system can be utilized to quantify gait in infant rhesus macaques less than 28 days old. Future applications to infant rhesus macaques could provide a better understanding of gait development and early differences within various neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina A Kabakov
- Department of Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Emma Crary
- Department of Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Viktorie Menna
- Department of Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Elaina R Razo
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792
| | - Jens C Eickhoff
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Natalie R Dulaney
- Department of Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - John R Drew
- Department of Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Kathryn M Bach
- Department of Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Aubreonna M Poole
- Department of Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Madison Stumpf
- Department of Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Ann M Mitzey
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Kerri B Malicki
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Michele L Schotzko
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Kristen A Pickett
- Department of Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Nancy J Schultz-Darken
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Marina E Emborg
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - David H O'Connor
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Thaddeus G Golos
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Emma L Mohr
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792
| | - Karla K Ausderau
- Department of Kinesiology, Occupational Therapy Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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Moritz MS, Tepp WH, Inzalaco HN, Johnson EA, Pellett S. Comparative functional analysis of mice after local injection with botulinum neurotoxin A1, A2, A6, and B1 by catwalk analysis. Toxicon 2019; 167:20-28. [PMID: 31181297 PMCID: PMC6688953 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2019.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are potent neurotoxins and are the causative agent of botulism, as well as valuable pharmaceuticals. BoNTs are divided into seven serotypes that comprise over 40 reported subtypes. BoNT/A1 and BoNT/B1 are currently the only subtypes approved for pharmaceutical use in the USA. While several other BoNT subtypes including BoNT/A2 and/A6 have been proposed as promising pharmaceuticals, detailed characterization using in vivo assays are essential to determine their pharmaceutical characteristics compared to the currently used BoNT/A1 and/B1. Several methods for studying BoNTs in mice are being used, but no objective and quantitative assay for assessment of functional outcomes after injection has been described. Here we describe the use of CatWalk XT as a new analytical tool for the objective and quantitative analysis of the paralytic effect after local intramuscular injection of BoNT subtypes A1, A2, A6, and B1. Catwalk is a sophisticated gait and locomotion analysis system that quantitatively analyzes a rodent's paw print dimensions and footfall patterns while traversing a glass plate during unforced walk. Significant changes were observed in several gait parameters in mice after local intramuscular injection of all tested BoNT subtypes, however, no changes were observed in mice injected intraperitoneally with the same BoNTs. While a clear difference in time to peak paralysis was observed between BoNT/A1 and/B1, injection of all four toxins resulted in a deficit in the injected limb with the other limbs functionally compensating and with no qualitative differences between the four BoNT subtypes. The presented data demonstrate the utility of CatWalk as a tool for functional outcomes after local BoNT injection through its ability to collect large amounts of quantitative data and objectively analyze sensitive changes in static and dynamic gait parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly S Moritz
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dept. of Bacteriology, USA
| | - William H Tepp
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dept. of Bacteriology, USA
| | | | - Eric A Johnson
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dept. of Bacteriology, USA
| | - Sabine Pellett
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dept. of Bacteriology, USA.
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Tarantini S, Yabluchanksiy A, Fülöp GA, Hertelendy P, Valcarcel-Ares MN, Kiss T, Bagwell JM, O'Connor D, Farkas E, Sorond F, Csiszar A, Ungvari Z. Pharmacologically induced impairment of neurovascular coupling responses alters gait coordination in mice. GeroScience 2017; 39:601-614. [PMID: 29243191 PMCID: PMC5745218 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-017-0003-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There is correlative evidence that impaired cerebral blood flow (CBF) regulation, in addition to promoting cognitive impairment, is also associated with alterations in gait and development of falls in elderly people. CBF is adjusted to neuronal activity via neurovascular coupling (NVC) and this mechanism becomes progressively impaired with age. To establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between impaired NVC and gait abnormalities, we induced neurovascular uncoupling pharmacologically in young C57BL/6 mice by inhibiting the synthesis of vasodilator mediators involved in NVC. Treatment of mice with the epoxygenase inhibitor MSPPOH, the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME, and the COX inhibitor indomethacin significantly decreased NVC mimicking the aging phenotype. Pharmacologically induced neurovascular uncoupling significantly decreased the dynamic gait parameter duty cycle, altered footfall patterns, and significantly increased phase dispersion, indicating impaired interlimb coordination. Impaired NVC also tended to increase gait variability. Thus, selective experimental disruption of NVC causes subclinical gait abnormalities, supporting the importance of CBF in both cognitive function and gait regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Tarantini
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Translational Geroscience Laboratory, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Andriy Yabluchanksiy
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Translational Geroscience Laboratory, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Gábor A Fülöp
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Translational Geroscience Laboratory, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Division of Clinical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Peter Hertelendy
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Translational Geroscience Laboratory, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - M Noa Valcarcel-Ares
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Tamas Kiss
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Jonathan M Bagwell
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Daniel O'Connor
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Eszter Farkas
- Department of Medical Physics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Farzaneh Sorond
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Anna Csiszar
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Translational Geroscience Laboratory, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Medical Physics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltan Ungvari
- Reynolds Oklahoma Center on Aging, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
- Translational Geroscience Laboratory, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
- Department of Medical Physics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
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Shepherd AJ, Mohapatra DP. Pharmacological validation of voluntary gait and mechanical sensitivity assays associated with inflammatory and neuropathic pain in mice. Neuropharmacology 2018; 130:18-29. [PMID: 29191755 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.11.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The urgent need for more effective analgesic treatment options has prompted a re-evaluation of the behavioral tests used to assess pain in pre-clinical research, with an emphasis on inclusion of more voluntary, un-evoked behavioral assessments of pain. In order to validate voluntary gait analysis and a voluntary mechanical conflict-avoidance assay, we tested mouse models of neuropathy (spared nerve injury) and inflammation (complete Freund's adjuvant) alongside reflexive measures of mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity. To establish whether the observed changes in behavioral responses were pain-related, known analgesics (buprenorphine, gabapentin, carprofen) were also administered. Spared nerve injury persistently altered several gait indices, whereas complete Freund's adjuvant caused only transient changes. Furthermore, known analgesics could not reverse these gait changes, despite demonstrating their previously established efficacy in reflexive measures of mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity. In contrast, the mechanical conflict-avoidance assay demonstrated aversion in mice with neuropathy and inflammation-induced hypersensitivity, which could both be reversed by analgesics. We conclude that voluntary gait changes in rodent neuropathic and inflammatory pain models are not necessarily indicative of pain-related adaptations. On the other hand, mechanical conflict-avoidance represents a valid operant assay for quantifying pain-related behaviors in mice that can be reversed by known analgesics.
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Braun R, Klein R, Walter HL, Ohren M, Freudenmacher L, Getachew K, Ladwig A, Luelling J, Neumaier B, Endepols H, Graf R, Hoehn M, Fink GR, Schroeter M, Rueger MA. Transcranial direct current stimulation accelerates recovery of function, induces neurogenesis and recruits oligodendrocyte precursors in a rat model of stroke. Exp Neurol 2016; 279:127-136. [PMID: 26923911 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical data suggest that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be used to facilitate rehabilitation after stroke. However, data are inconsistent and the neurobiological mechanisms underlying tDCS remain poorly explored, impeding its implementation into clinical routine. In the healthy rat brain, tDCS affects neural stem cells (NSC) and microglia. We here investigated whether tDCS applied after stroke also beneficially affects these cells, which are known to be involved in regeneration and repair. METHODS Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in rats by transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Twenty-eight animals with comparable infarcts, as judged by magnetic resonance imaging, were randomized to receive a multi-session paradigm of either cathodal, anodal, or sham tDCS. Behaviorally, recovery of motor function was assessed by Catwalk. Proliferation in the NSC niches was monitored by Positron-Emission-Tomography (PET) employing the radiotracer 3'-deoxy-3'-[(18)F]fluoro-l-thymidine ([(18)F]FLT). Microglia activation was depicted with [(11)C]PK11195-PET. In addition, immunohistochemical analyses were used to quantify neuroblasts, oligodendrocyte precursors, and activation and polarization of microglia. RESULTS Anodal and cathodal tDCS both accelerated functional recovery, though affecting different aspects of motor function. Likewise, tDCS induced neurogenesis independently of polarity, while only cathodal tDCS recruited oligodendrocyte precursors towards the lesion. Moreover, cathodal stimulation preferably supported M1-polarization of microglia. CONCLUSIONS TDCS acts through multifaceted mechanisms that far exceed its primary neurophysiological effects, encompassing proliferation and migration of stem cells, their neuronal differentiation, and modulation of microglia responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramona Braun
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleueler Str. 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Rebecca Klein
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany
| | - Helene Luise Walter
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany
| | - Maurice Ohren
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany
| | - Lars Freudenmacher
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany
| | - Kaleab Getachew
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany
| | - Anne Ladwig
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleueler Str. 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Joachim Luelling
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany
| | - Bernd Neumaier
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleueler Str. 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Heike Endepols
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany
| | - Rudolf Graf
- Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleueler Str. 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Mathias Hoehn
- Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleueler Str. 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Gereon Rudolf Fink
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany
| | - Michael Schroeter
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleueler Str. 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany
| | - Maria Adele Rueger
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Gleueler Str. 50, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany.
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Wen P, Li M, Xiao H, Ding R, Chen H, Chang J, Zhou M, Yang Y, Wang J, Zheng W, Zhang W. Low-frequency stimulation of the pedunculopontine nucleus affects gait and the neurotransmitter level in the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus in 6-OHDA Parkinsonian rats. Neurosci Lett 2015; 600:62-8. [PMID: 26054938 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Revised: 05/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) is connected to spinal, cerebellar and cerebral motor control structures and can be activated with external electrodes. Intrinsic cholinergic neuronal degeneration in the PPN is associated with postural instabilities and gait disturbances (PIGD) in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Clinical studies have demonstrated that PPN stimulation may improve PIGD. We investigated this claim and the underlying mechanisms using the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) hemilesion model of PD. In this study, gait-related parameters, including the base of support (BOS), stride length, and maximum contact area, were analyzed via CatWalk gait analysis following PPN-low frequency stimulation (LFS) of rats with unilateral 6-OHDA lesions. Additionally, neurotransmitter concentrations in the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus (VL) were measured by microdialysis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Our data revealed that unilateral 6-OHDA lesions of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) induced significant gait deficits. PPN-LFS significantly improved the BOS (hindlimb) and maximum contact area (impaired forelimb) scores, whereas no other gait parameters were significantly affected. Unilateral 6-OHDA MFB lesions significantly decreased acetylcholine (ACh) and moderately decreased noradrenaline (NA) concentrations in the VL. PPN-LFS mildly reversed the ACh loss in the VL in the lesioned rats but did not alter the NA levels. Taken together, our data indicate that PPN-LFS is useful for treating gait deficits of PD and that these effects are probably mediated by a rebalancing of ACh levels in the PPN-VL pathway. Thus, our findings provide possible insight into the mechanisms underlying PIGD in PD.
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Lucas EK, Reid CS, McMeekin LJ, Dougherty SE, Floyd CL, Cowell RM. Cerebellar transcriptional alterations with Purkinje cell dysfunction and loss in mice lacking PGC-1α. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 8:441. [PMID: 25610371 PMCID: PMC4285109 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in the expression and activity of the transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (ppargc1a or PGC-1α) have been reported in multiple movement disorders, yet it is unclear how a lack of PGC-1α impacts transcription and function of the cerebellum, a region with high PGC-1α expression. We show here that mice lacking PGC-1α exhibit ataxia in addition to the previously described deficits in motor coordination. Using q-RT-PCR in cerebellar homogenates from PGC-1α−/− mice, we measured expression of 37 microarray-identified transcripts upregulated by PGC-1α in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with neuroanatomical overlap with PGC-1α or parvalbumin (PV), a calcium buffer highly expressed by Purkinje cells. We found significant reductions in transcripts with synaptic (complexin1, Cplx1; Pacsin2), structural (neurofilament heavy chain, Nefh), and metabolic (isocitrate dehydrogenase 3a, Idh3a; neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase 1, Nceh1; pyruvate dehydrogenase alpha 1, Pdha1; phytanoyl-CoA hydroxylase, Phyh; ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase, Rieske iron-sulfur polypeptide 1, Uqcrfs1) functions. Using conditional deletion of PGC-1α in PV-positive neurons, we determined that 50% of PGC-1α expression and a reduction in a subset of these transcripts could be explained by its concentration in PV-positive neuronal populations in the cerbellum. To determine whether there were functional consequences associated with these changes, we conducted stereological counts and spike rate analysis in Purkinje cells, a cell type rich in PV, from PGC-1α−/− mice. We observed a significant loss of Purkinje cells by 6 weeks of age, and the remaining Purkinje cells exhibited a 50% reduction in spike rate. Together, these data highlight the complexity of PGC-1α's actions in the central nervous system and suggest that dysfunction in multiple cell types contribute to motor deficits in the context of PGC-1α deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth K Lucas
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL, USA ; Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY, USA
| | - Courtney S Reid
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Laura J McMeekin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Sarah E Dougherty
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL, USA ; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Candace L Floyd
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Rita M Cowell
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL, USA
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