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Zhang L, Liu J, Liu M. Transsynaptic degeneration of ventral horn motor neurons exists but plays a minor role in lower motor system dysfunction in acute ischemic rats. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298006. [PMID: 38669239 PMCID: PMC11051614 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability, acute ischemic stroke can produce far-reaching pathophysiological consequences. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated abnormalities in the lower motor system following stroke, while the existence of Transsynaptic degeneration of contralateral spinal cord ventral horn (VH) neurons is still debated. METHODS Using a rat model of acute ischemic stroke, we analyzed spinal cord VH neuron counts contralaterally and ipsilaterally after stroke with immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, we estimated the overall lower motor unit abnormalities after stroke by simultaneously measuring the modified neurological severity score (mNSS), compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS), spinal cord VH neuron counts, and the corresponding muscle fiber morphology. The activation status of microglia and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) in the spinal cord VH was also assessed. RESULTS At 7 days after stroke, the contralateral CMAP amplitudes declined to a nadir indicating lower motor function damage, and significant muscle disuse atrophy was observed on the same side; meanwhile, the VH neurons remained intact. At 14 days after focal stroke, lower motor function recovered with alleviated muscle disuse atrophy, while transsynaptic degeneration occurred on the contralateral side with elevated activation of ERK 1/2, along with the occurrence of neurogenic muscle atrophy. No apparent decrement of CMAP amplitude was observed with RNS during the whole experimental process. CONCLUSIONS This study offered an overview of changes in the lower motor system in experimental ischemic rats. We demonstrated that transsynaptic degeneration of contralateral VH neurons occurred when lower motor function significantly recovered, which indicated the minor role of transsynaptic degeneration in lower motor dysfunction during the acute and subacute phases of focal ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jingwen Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingsheng Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Mori F, Yasui H, Miki Y, Kon T, Arai A, Kurotaki H, Tomiyama M, Wakabayashi K. Colocalization of TDP-43 and stress granules at the early stage of TDP-43 aggregation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Pathol 2024; 34:e13215. [PMID: 37793650 PMCID: PMC10901621 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13215] [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: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 aggregates (skeins and round inclusions [RIs]) are frequent histopathological features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We have shown that diffuse punctate cytoplasmic staining (DPCS) is the earliest pathologic manifestation of TDP-43 in ALS, corresponding to nonfibrillar TDP-43 located in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Previous in vitro studies have suggested that TDP-43 inclusions may be derived from stress granules (SGs). Therefore, we investigated the involvement of SGs in the formation of TDP-43 inclusions. Formalin-fixed spinal cords of six ALS patients with a disease duration of less than 1 year (short duration), eight patients with a disease duration of 2-5 years (standard duration), and five normal controls were subjected to histopathological examination using antibodies against an SG marker, HuR. In normal controls, the cytoplasm of anterior horn cells was diffusely HuR-positive. In short-duration and standard-duration ALS, the number of HuR-positive anterior horn cells was significantly decreased relative to the controls. DPCS and RIs were more frequent in short-duration ALS than in standard-duration ALS. The majority of DPCS areas and a small proportion of RIs, but not skeins, were positive for HuR. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that ribosome-like granular structures in DPCS areas and RIs were labeled with anti-HuR, whereas skeins were not. These findings suggest that colocalization of TDP-43 and SGs occurs at the early stage of TDP-43 aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiaki Mori
- Department of NeuropathologyInstitute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiJapan
| | - Hina Yasui
- Department of NeuropathologyInstitute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiJapan
| | - Yasuo Miki
- Department of NeuropathologyInstitute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiJapan
| | - Tomoya Kon
- Department of NeurologyInstitute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiJapan
| | - Akira Arai
- Department of NeurologyAomori Prefectural Central HospitalAomoriJapan
| | | | - Masahiko Tomiyama
- Department of NeurologyInstitute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiJapan
| | - Koichi Wakabayashi
- Department of NeuropathologyInstitute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiJapan
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Kollai S, Bereczki D, Glasz T, Hortobágyi T, Kovács T. Early histopathological changes of secondary degeneration in the spinal cord after total MCA territory stroke. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21934. [PMID: 38082027 PMCID: PMC10713562 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49230-x] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous research has not demonstrated secondary degeneration of the spinal cord (SpC) motoneurons after cerebral infarct. The aim of the present study is to investigate the involvement of the anterior horn cells (AHC) in the early post-stroke period using histomorphological and immunohistochemical methods. Post-mortem analysis of the 6th cervical segment was performed in 7 patients who had total MCA stroke within 1 month before death. Nissl-stained sections were used for morphometry, while CD68 and synaptophysin (SYP) immunohistochemistry to monitor microglial activation and synaptic changes in the anterior horn (AH), respectively. Contralateral to the cerebral lesion (contralesional side), cells were smaller after 3 days and larger after 1 week of stroke, especially regarding the large alpha motoneurons. CD68 density increased mainly on the contralesional Rexed's IX lamina of the SpC. SYP coverage of the large motoneurons was reduced on the contralesional side. Early microglial activation in the AH and electrophysiological signs has suggested the possibility of impairment of anterior horn cells (AHC-s). Our study supported that early microglial activation in the contralesional side of the SpC may primarily affect the area corresponding to the location of large motoneurons, and is accompanied by a transient shrinkage followed by increase in size of the large AHC-s with a reduction of their synaptic coverage. After MCA stroke, early involvement of the SpC motoneurons may be suspected by their morphological and synaptic changes and by the pattern of microglial activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarolta Kollai
- Department of Neurology, Semmelweis University, Balassa U. 6, Budapest, 1083, Hungary
- Károly Schaffer Laboratory of Neuropathology, Department of Neurology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dániel Bereczki
- Department of Neurology, Semmelweis University, Balassa U. 6, Budapest, 1083, Hungary
- HUN-REN-SU Neuroepidemiological Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tibor Glasz
- Department of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tibor Hortobágyi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Tibor Kovács
- Department of Neurology, Semmelweis University, Balassa U. 6, Budapest, 1083, Hungary.
- Károly Schaffer Laboratory of Neuropathology, Department of Neurology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
- HUN-REN-SU Neuroepidemiological Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
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Zilundu PLM, Xu X, Liaquat Z, Wang Y, Zhong K, Fu R, Zhou L. Long-Term Suppression of c-Jun and nNOS Preserves Ultrastructural Features of Lower Motor Neurons and Forelimb Function after Brachial Plexus Roots Avulsion. Cells 2021; 10:1614. [PMID: 34203264 PMCID: PMC8307634 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brachial plexus root avulsions cause debilitating upper limb paralysis. Short-term neuroprotective treatments have reported preservation of motor neurons and function in model animals while reports of long-term benefits of such treatments are scarce, especially the morphological sequelae. This morphological study investigated the long-term suppression of c-Jun- and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) (neuroprotective treatments for one month) on the motor neuron survival, ultrastructural features of lower motor neurons, and forelimb function at six months after brachial plexus roots avulsion. Neuroprotective treatments reduced oxidative stress and preserved ventral horn motor neurons at the end of the 28-day treatment period relative to vehicle treated ones. Motor neuron sparing was associated with suppression of c-Jun, nNOS, and pro-apoptotic proteins Bim and caspases at this time point. Following 6 months of survival, neutral red staining revealed a significant loss of most of the motor neurons and ventral horn atrophy in the avulsed C6, 7, and 8 cervical segments among the vehicle-treated rats (n = 4). However, rats that received neuroprotective treatments c-Jun JNK inhibitor, SP600125 (n = 4) and a selective inhibitor of nNOS, 7-nitroindazole (n = 4), retained over half of their motor neurons in the ipsilateral avulsed side compared. Myelinated axons in the avulsed ventral horns of vehicle-treated rats were smaller but numerous compared to the intact contralateral ventral horns or neuroprotective-treated groups. In the neuroprotective treatment groups, there was the preservation of myelin thickness around large-caliber axons. Ultrastructural evaluation also confirmed the preservation of organelles including mitochondria and synapses in the two groups that received neuroprotective treatments compared with vehicle controls. Also, forelimb functional evaluation demonstrated that neuroprotective treatments improved functional abilities in the rats. In conclusion, neuroprotective treatments aimed at suppressing degenerative c-Jun and nNOS attenuated apoptosis, provided long-term preservation of motor neurons, their organelles, ventral horn size, and forelimb function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prince Last Mudenda Zilundu
- Department of Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; (P.L.M.Z.); (X.X.); (K.Z.)
| | - Xiaoying Xu
- Department of Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; (P.L.M.Z.); (X.X.); (K.Z.)
| | - Zaara Liaquat
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518100, China;
| | - Yaqiong Wang
- Department of Electron Microscopy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China;
| | - Ke Zhong
- Department of Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; (P.L.M.Z.); (X.X.); (K.Z.)
| | - Rao Fu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518100, China;
| | - Lihua Zhou
- Department of Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; (P.L.M.Z.); (X.X.); (K.Z.)
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518100, China;
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Deguchi K, Honjo N, Takata T, Touge T, Masaki T. Flail arm syndrome mimic caused by hemosiderin deposition in the anterior horn. Acta Neurol Belg 2020; 120:1487-1489. [PMID: 32885346 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-020-01489-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kazushi Deguchi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan.
| | - Naomi Honjo
- Department of Neuroradiology, Osaka Neurosurgical Hospital, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Tadayuki Takata
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Touge
- Department of Health Sciences, Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Masaki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa, 761-0793, Japan
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6
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Wang D, Tawfik VL, Corder G, Low SA, François A, Basbaum AI, Scherrer G. Functional Divergence of Delta and Mu Opioid Receptor Organization in CNS Pain Circuits. Neuron 2018; 98:90-108.e5. [PMID: 29576387 PMCID: PMC5896237 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cellular interactions between delta and mu opioid receptors (DORs and MORs), including heteromerization, are thought to regulate opioid analgesia. However, the identity of the nociceptive neurons in which such interactions could occur in vivo remains elusive. Here we show that DOR-MOR co-expression is limited to small populations of excitatory interneurons and projection neurons in the spinal cord dorsal horn and unexpectedly predominates in ventral horn motor circuits. Similarly, DOR-MOR co-expression is rare in parabrachial, amygdalar, and cortical brain regions processing nociceptive information. We further demonstrate that in the discrete DOR-MOR co-expressing nociceptive neurons, the two receptors internalize and function independently. Finally, conditional knockout experiments revealed that DORs selectively regulate mechanical pain by controlling the excitability of somatostatin-positive dorsal horn interneurons. Collectively, our results illuminate the functional organization of DORs and MORs in CNS pain circuits and reappraise the importance of DOR-MOR cellular interactions for developing novel opioid analgesics.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Anterior Horn Cells/chemistry
- Anterior Horn Cells/metabolism
- Anterior Horn Cells/pathology
- Central Nervous System/chemistry
- Central Nervous System/metabolism
- Central Nervous System/pathology
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Nerve Net/chemistry
- Nerve Net/metabolism
- Nerve Net/pathology
- Pain/metabolism
- Pain/pathology
- Pain Measurement/methods
- Posterior Horn Cells/chemistry
- Posterior Horn Cells/metabolism
- Posterior Horn Cells/pathology
- Receptors, Opioid, delta/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Opioid, delta/genetics
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Vivianne L Tawfik
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Gregory Corder
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Sarah A Low
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Amaury François
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Allan I Basbaum
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Grégory Scherrer
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; New York Stem Cell Foundation - Robertson Investigator, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
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7
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Garg N, Park SB, Vucic S, Yiannikas C, Spies J, Howells J, Huynh W, Matamala JM, Krishnan AV, Pollard JD, Cornblath DR, Reilly MM, Kiernan MC. Differentiating lower motor neuron syndromes. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2017; 88:474-483. [PMID: 28003344 PMCID: PMC5529975 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2016-313526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Lower motor neuron (LMN) syndromes typically present with muscle wasting and weakness and may arise from pathology affecting the distal motor nerve up to the level of the anterior horn cell. A variety of hereditary causes are recognised, including spinal muscular atrophy, distal hereditary motor neuropathy and LMN variants of familial motor neuron disease. Recent genetic advances have resulted in the identification of a variety of disease-causing mutations. Immune-mediated disorders, including multifocal motor neuropathy and variants of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, account for a proportion of LMN presentations and are important to recognise, as effective treatments are available. The present review will outline the spectrum of LMN syndromes that may develop in adulthood and provide a framework for the clinician assessing a patient presenting with predominantly LMN features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Garg
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Susanna B Park
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Steve Vucic
- Departments of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Westmead Hospital, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Con Yiannikas
- Department of Neurology, Concord and Royal North Shore Hospitals, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Judy Spies
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - James Howells
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - William Huynh
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - José M Matamala
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Arun V Krishnan
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John D Pollard
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David R Cornblath
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mary M Reilly
- MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Shukla R. Owl's eye sign: A rare neuroimaging finding in flail arm syndrome. Neurology 2015; 85:1996. [PMID: 26962585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
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9
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Man'kovskaya YP, Maznychenko AV, Pil'kevych NO, Maisky VO, Vlasenko OV, Dovgan OV. [NADPH-DIAPHORASE REACTIVITY IN THE VENTRAL HORN OF THE FELINE SPINAL CORD DURING ACUTE MUSCLE INFLAMMATION]. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 61:46-52. [PMID: 27025044 DOI: 10.15407/fz61.06.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this research was to reveal the changes in the NADPH-d reactivity in the lumbal spinal cord (L6/L7) of cats with unilateral acute myositis of the mm. gastrocnemius-soleus after intramuscular injections of carrageenan. The effect of unilateral muscle inflammation was expressed in a significant increase in the number of NADPH-d-reactive neurons in ipsilateral and contralateral intermediate (lamina VII; 17.62 ± 2.7 and 20.67 ± 13.3) and medial (lamina VIII; 7.3 ± 1.9 and 6.0 ± 2.1 respectively) zones of the ventral horns. However, a clear decline of the reactive cells was recorded on the ipsilateral side within the area around the central canal (lamina X). An increase in the NADPH-d reactivity within the ventral horns on both sides on the spinal cord and the induction of such reactivity (contralaterally) in large multipolar neurons localized in the dorsal part of the intermediate zone were revealed in cats with unilateral acute muscle inflammation. It is hypothesized, that during acute myositis, plastic changes in different layers of the dorsal and ventral horns activate the processes of disinhibition due to an increase in the number of NOS-containing/NADPH-d-reactive neurons in the spinal gray matter.
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10
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Struck AF, Salamat S, Waclawik AJ. Motor neuron disease with selective degeneration of anterior horn cells associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. J Clin Neuromuscul Dis 2014; 16:83-89. [PMID: 25415520 DOI: 10.1097/cnd.0000000000000056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We describe an autopsy-confirmed case of motor neuron disease with selective degeneration of the anterior horn cells associated with a non-Hodgkin lymphoma. METHODS Case report, including extensive autopsy studies. RESULTS The patient developed severe fasciculations and then progressive atrophy and weakness several months after the diagnosis and initial treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. As the disease progressed, needle electromyography showed diffuse severe denervation changes including thoracic paraspinal muscles. Autopsy showed severe loss of anterior horn cells with associated gliosis and preservation of cortical spinal tracts and Betz cells. CONCLUSIONS This case provides an autopsy evidence of severe anterior horn cell degeneration in the course of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, raising the possibility that the neurologic syndrome, characterized by lower motor neuron disease, may represent a paraneoplastic process. Similar cases have been reported previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron F Struck
- Departments of *Neurology and †Pathology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI
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11
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Lewis SL. Of all the nerve (and anterior horn cell and neuromuscular junction). Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2014; 20:1183-4. [PMID: 25299276 DOI: 10.1212/01.con.0000455887.21922.2e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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12
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Sumner CJ, d'Ydewalle C, Wooley J, Fawcett KA, Hernandez D, Gardiner AR, Kalmar B, Baloh RH, Gonzalez M, Züchner S, Stanescu HC, Kleta R, Mankodi A, Cornblath DR, Boylan KB, Reilly MM, Greensmith L, Singleton AB, Harms MB, Rossor AM, Houlden H. A dominant mutation in FBXO38 causes distal spinal muscular atrophy with calf predominance. Am J Hum Genet 2013; 93:976-83. [PMID: 24207122 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2013.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2013] [Revised: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophies (SMAs) are a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders characterized by degeneration of anterior horn cells and progressive muscle weakness. In two unrelated families affected by a distinct form of autosomal-dominant distal SMA initially manifesting with calf weakness, we identified by genetic linkage analysis and exome sequencing a heterozygous missense mutation, c.616T>C (p.Cys206Arg), in F-box protein 38 (FBXO38). FBXO38 is a known coactivator of the transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 7 (KLF7), which regulates genes required for neuronal axon outgrowth and repair. The p.Cys206Arg substitution did not alter the subcellular localization of FBXO38 but did impair KLF7-mediated transactivation of a KLF7-responsive promoter construct and endogenous KLF7 target genes in both heterologously expressing human embryonic kidney 293T cells and fibroblasts derived from individuals with the FBXO38 missense mutation. This transcriptional dysregulation was associated with an impairment of neurite outgrowth in primary motor neurons. Together, these results suggest that a transcriptional regulatory pathway that has a well-established role in axonal development could also be critical for neuronal maintenance and highlight the importance of FBXO38 and KLF7 activity in motor neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte J Sumner
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Gransee HM, Zhan WZ, Sieck GC, Mantilla CB. Targeted delivery of TrkB receptor to phrenic motoneurons enhances functional recovery of rhythmic phrenic activity after cervical spinal hemisection. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64755. [PMID: 23724091 PMCID: PMC3665838 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Progressive recovery of rhythmic phrenic activity occurs over time after a spinal cord hemisection involving unilateral transection of anterolateral funiculi at C2 (SH). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) acting through its full-length tropomyosin related kinase receptor subtype B (TrkB.FL) contributes to neuroplasticity after spinal cord injury, but the specific cellular substrates remain unclear. We hypothesized that selectively targeting increased TrkB.FL expression to phrenic motoneurons would be sufficient to enhance recovery of rhythmic phrenic activity after SH. Several adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes expressing GFP were screened to determine specificity for phrenic motoneuron transduction via intrapleural injection in adult rats. GFP expression was present in the cervical spinal cord 3 weeks after treatment with AAV serotypes 7, 8, and 9, but not with AAV2, 6, or rhesus-10. Overall, AAV7 produced the most consistent GFP expression in phrenic motoneurons. SH was performed 3 weeks after intrapleural injection of AAV7 expressing human TrkB.FL-FLAG or saline. Delivery of TrkB.FL-FLAG to phrenic motoneurons was confirmed by FLAG protein expression in the phrenic motor nucleus and human TrkB.FL mRNA expression in microdissected phrenic motoneurons. In all SH rats, absence of ipsilateral diaphragm EMG activity was confirmed at 3 days post-SH, verifying complete interruption of ipsilateral descending drive to phrenic motoneurons. At 14 days post-SH, all AAV7-TrkB.FL treated rats (n = 11) displayed recovery of ipsilateral diaphragm EMG activity compared to 3 out of 8 untreated SH rats (p<0.01). During eupnea, AAV7-TrkB.FL treated rats exhibited 73±7% of pre-SH root mean squared EMG vs. only 31±11% in untreated SH rats displaying recovery (p<0.01). This study provides direct evidence that increased TrkB.FL expression in phrenic motoneurons is sufficient to enhance recovery of ipsilateral rhythmic phrenic activity after SH, indicating that selectively targeting gene expression in spared motoneurons below the level of spinal cord injury may promote functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M. Gransee
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Wen-Zhi Zhan
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Gary C. Sieck
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Carlos B. Mantilla
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Thakur M, Rahman W, Hobbs C, Dickenson AH, Bennett DLH. Characterisation of a peripheral neuropathic component of the rat monoiodoacetate model of osteoarthritis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e33730. [PMID: 22470467 PMCID: PMC3312347 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2011] [Accepted: 02/16/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Joint degeneration observed in the rat monoiodoacetate (MIA) model of osteoarthritis shares many histological features with the clinical condition. The accompanying pain phenotype has seen the model widely used to investigate the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis pain, and for preclinical screening of analgesic compounds. We have investigated the pathophysiological sequellae of MIA used at low (1 mg) or high (2 mg) dose. Intra-articular 2 mg MIA induced expression of ATF-3, a sensitive marker for peripheral neuron stress/injury, in small and large diameter DRG cell profiles principally at levels L4 and 5 (levels predominated by neurones innervating the hindpaw) rather than L3. At the 7 day timepoint, ATF-3 signal was significantly smaller in 1 mg MIA treated animals than in the 2 mg treated group. 2 mg, but not 1 mg, intra-articular MIA was also associated with a significant reduction in intra-epidermal nerve fibre density in plantar hindpaw skin, and produced spinal cord dorsal and ventral horn microgliosis. The 2 mg treatment evoked mechanical pain-related hypersensitivity of the hindpaw that was significantly greater than the 1 mg treatment. MIA treatment produced weight bearing asymmetry and cold hypersensitivity which was similar at both doses. Additionally, while pregabalin significantly reduced deep dorsal horn evoked neuronal responses in animals treated with 2 mg MIA, this effect was much reduced or absent in the 1 mg or sham treated groups. These data demonstrate that intra-articular 2 mg MIA not only produces joint degeneration, but also evokes significant axonal injury to DRG cells including those innervating targets outside of the knee joint such as hindpaw skin. This significant neuropathic component needs to be taken into account when interpreting studies using this model, particularly at doses greater than 1 mg MIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Thakur
- Neuropharmacology of Pain Group, Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
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Lepore AC, O'Donnell J, Kim AS, Williams T, Tuteja A, Rao MS, Kelley LL, Campanelli JT, Maragakis NJ. Human glial-restricted progenitor transplantation into cervical spinal cord of the SOD1 mouse model of ALS. PLoS One 2011; 6:e25968. [PMID: 21998733 PMCID: PMC3187829 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2011] [Accepted: 09/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular abnormalities are not limited to motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). There are numerous observations of astrocyte dysfunction in both humans with ALS and in SOD1(G93A) rodents, a widely studied ALS model. The present study therapeutically targeted astrocyte replacement in this model via transplantation of human Glial-Restricted Progenitors (hGRPs), lineage-restricted progenitors derived from human fetal neural tissue. Our previous findings demonstrated that transplantation of rodent-derived GRPs into cervical spinal cord ventral gray matter (in order to target therapy to diaphragmatic function) resulted in therapeutic efficacy in the SOD1(G93A) rat. Those findings demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of transplantation-based astrocyte replacement for ALS, and also show that targeted multi-segmental cell delivery to cervical spinal cord is a promising therapeutic strategy, particularly because of its relevance to addressing respiratory compromise associated with ALS. The present study investigated the safety and in vivo survival, distribution, differentiation, and potential efficacy of hGRPs in the SOD1(G93A) mouse. hGRP transplants robustly survived and migrated in both gray and white matter and differentiated into astrocytes in SOD1(G93A) mice spinal cord, despite ongoing disease progression. However, cervical spinal cord transplants did not result in motor neuron protection or any therapeutic benefits on functional outcome measures. This study provides an in vivo characterization of this glial progenitor cell and provides a foundation for understanding their capacity for survival, integration within host tissues, differentiation into glial subtypes, migration, and lack of toxicity or tumor formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo C. Lepore
- Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - John O'Donnell
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Andrew S. Kim
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Timothy Williams
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alicia Tuteja
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mahendra S. Rao
- Life Technologies, Carlsbad, California, United States of America
- Q Therapeutics, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Linda L. Kelley
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - James T. Campanelli
- Q Therapeutics, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Nicholas J. Maragakis
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Hereditary spastic paraplegia encompasses a group of disorders that are characterized by progressive lower extremity weakness and spasticity. We describe two patients with Silver phenotype including one with a novel SPG4 (Spastin) mutation and a second with a known SPG 4 mutation (previously unassociated with this phenotype) and a concomitant previously unreported mutation in SPG3A (Atlastin). These cases suggest that Silver syndrome may be associated with a wider variety of genotypes than previously described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnny S Salameh
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Ahdab R, Créange A, Benaderette S, Lefaucheur JP. Cervical spondylotic amyotrophy presenting as dropped head syndrome. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2009; 111:874-6. [PMID: 19647927 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2009.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2008] [Revised: 07/03/2009] [Accepted: 07/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We report a case of acute-onset dropped head syndrome in a 65-year-old patient in whom the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was initially proposed based on electromyographic signs of neck and shoulder muscle denervation. There were no signs of pyramidal involvement and the clinical and electromyographic signs of motor denervation never evolved beyond the neck and shoulder girdle muscles after a 6-year follow-up period, which argued against ALS. Other causes of dropped head syndrome were carefully ruled out based on clinical findings, electrodiagnostic studies and blood investigations. The restriction of muscle denervation to a few cervical myotomes, the presence of C3-C4 spondylotic changes without associated root or spinal cord compression, and the absence of an alternative explanation to the patient's symptoms strongly supported the diagnosis of cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA). CSA is thought to result from spinal cord microcirculatory disturbances and secondary anterior horn cell degeneration due to ischemia. Our case enlarges the clinical spectrum of focal cervical anterior horn disease, which classically results in more distal monomelic atrophy affecting one or both upper limbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rechdi Ahdab
- Service de Physiologie - Explorations Fonctionnelles, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Créteil, France.
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Nishihira Y, Tan CF, Hoshi Y, Iwanaga K, Yamada M, Kawachi I, Tsujihata M, Hozumi I, Morita T, Onodera O, Nishizawa M, Kakita A, Takahashi H. Sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis of long duration is associated with relatively mild TDP-43 pathology. Acta Neuropathol 2009; 117:45-53. [PMID: 18923836 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-008-0443-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2008] [Revised: 09/26/2008] [Accepted: 09/26/2008] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recently, sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS), a fatal neurological disease, has been shown to be a multisystem proteinopathy of TDP-43 in which both neurons and glial cells in the central nervous system are widely affected. In general, the natural history of SALS is short (<5 years). However, it is also known that a few patients may survive for 10 years or more, even without artificial respiratory support (ARS). In the present study using TDP-43 immunohistochemistry, we examined various regions of the nervous system in six patients with SALS of long duration (10-20 years) without ARS, in whom lower motor-predominant disease with Bunina bodies and ubiquitinated inclusions (UIs) in the affected lower motor neurons was confirmed. One case also showed UIs in the hippocampal dentate granule cells (UDG). In all cases, except one with UDG, the occurrence of TDP-43-immunoreactive (ir) neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions (NCIs) was confined to a few regions in the spinal cord and brainstem, including the anterior horns. In one case with UDG, TDP-43-ir NCIs were also detected in the substantia nigra, and some regions of the cerebrum, including the hippocampal dentate gyrus (granule cells). The number of neurons displaying NCIs in each region was very small (1-3 per region, except the dentate gyrus). On the other hand, the occurrence of TDP-43-ir glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) was more widespread in the central nervous system, including the cerebral white matter. Again, however, the number of glial cells displaying GCIs in each region was very small (1-3 per region). In conclusion, compared to the usual form of SALS, TDP-43 pathology shown in SALS of long duration was apparently mild in degree and limited in distribution, corresponding to the relatively benign clinical courses observed. It is now apparent that SALS of long duration is actually part of a TDP-43 proteinopathy spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasushi Nishihira
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata, 1-757 Asahimachi, Chuo-ku, Niigata, 951-8585, Japan.
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19
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Sassa S. [100-year history of the Psychiatria et Neurologia Japanica--Case of chronic anterior horn myelitis]. Seishin Shinkeigaku Zasshi 2009; 111:352-354. [PMID: 19499648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
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20
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Gilerovich EG, Moshonkina TR, Fedorova EA, Shishko TT, Pavlova NV, Gerasimenko YP, Otellin VA. Morphofunctional characteristics of the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord in rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 38:855-60. [PMID: 18802763 DOI: 10.1007/s11055-008-9056-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2006] [Revised: 03/12/2007] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The topography of the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord in rats was studied; an immunohistochemical method was used to determine the distribution of synaptophysin--a membrane protein of synaptic vesicles. Synaptophysin-immunoreactive structures were detected in the gray matter of all Rexed laminae, around most neurons and in the neuropil. Previously undescribed subpial synaptic contacts were detected immunohistochemically in the white matter and confirmed by electron microscopy. A non-myelinated component of the corticospinal tract, including axonal varicosities and synaptic contacts, was observed in the dorsal part of the white matter of the lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- E G Gilerovich
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
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21
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Lev D, Michelson-Kerman M, Vinkler C, Blumkin L, Shalev SA, Lerman-Sagie T. Infantile onset progressive cerebellar atrophy and anterior horn cell degeneration--a late onset variant of PCH-1? Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2008; 12:97-101. [PMID: 17681808 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2007.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2006] [Revised: 06/03/2007] [Accepted: 06/22/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Despite major recent advances in our understanding of developmental cerebellar disorders, classification and delineation of these disorders remains difficult. The term pontocerebellar hypoplasia is used when there is a structural defect, originating in utero of both pons and cerebellar hemispheres. The term olivopontocerebellar atrophy is used when the disorder starts later in life and the process is a primary degeneration of cerebellar neurons. Pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 1 is associated with spinal anterior horn cell degeneration, congenital contractures, microcephaly, polyhydramnion and respiratory insufficiency leading to early death. However, anterior horn cell degeneration has also been described in cases with later onset pontocerebellar atrophy and recently the spectrum has even been further extended to include the association of anterior horn cell degeneration and cerebellar atrophy without pontine involvement. We describe two siblings from a consanguineous Moslem Arabic family who presented with progressive degeneration of both the cerebellum and the anterior horn cells. The patients presented after 1 year of age with a slow neurodegenerative course that included both cognitive and motor functions. There is considerable phenotypic variability; the sister shows a much milder course. Both children are still alive at 6 and 9 years. The sister could still crawl and speak two word sentences at the age of 3 years while the brother was bedridden and only uttered guttural sounds at the same age. Our cases further extend the phenotype of the cerebellar syndromes with anterior horn cell involvement to include a childhood onset and protracted course and further prove that this neurodegenerative disorder may start in utero or later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorit Lev
- Metabolic Neurogenetic Service, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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Kakinohana M, Oshiro M, Saikawa S, Nakamura S, Higa T, Davison KJ, Marsala M, Sugahara K. Intravenous Infusion of Dexmedetomidine Can Prevent the Degeneration of Spinal Ventral Neurons Induced by Intrathecal Morphine After a Noninjurious Interval of Spinal Cord Ischemia in Rats. Anesth Analg 2007; 105:1086-93, table of contents. [PMID: 17898393 DOI: 10.1213/01.ane.0000278641.90190.8d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent studies, we demonstrated that neuraxial morphine after noninjurious spinal cord ischemia in the rat could induce spastic paraplegia and degeneration of selective spinal ventral neurons. Our objective was to investigate the impact of dexmedetomidine infusion on the degeneration of spinal ventral neurons induced by intrathecal (IT) morphine after spinal cord ischemia. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given repetitive doses of IT morphine (40 microg x 2) at 1 and 5 h after a noninjurious interval (6 min) of spinal cord ischemia. The animals were assigned to one of the following four groups after the first IT injection (n = 8/group): Group S, IV infusion of saline (mL/h); Group Dex 0.1, dexmedetomidine (0.1 microg . kg(-1) x h(-1)); Group Dex 1, dexmedetomidine (1 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1)); Group Dex 3, dexmedetomidine (3 microg x kg(-1) x h(-1)). Follow-up evaluation included a sedation scale, the Motor Deficit Index to determine neurological dysfunction and histopathology of the spinal cord at 72 h of reperfusion. RESULTS IV dexmedetomidine produced a dose-dependent increase in the sedation index. Repetitive IT morphine injection induced paraplegia and degeneration of the spinal ventral neurons. IV dexmedetomidine at a sedative dose in comparison with saline significantly attenuated neurological dysfunction and histopathological consequences. CONCLUSION These data show that repetitive administration of IT morphine can induce paraplegia with degeneration of spinal ventral neurons, which can be attenuated by IV dexmedetomidine at a sedative dose. The use of dexmedetomidine may provide beneficial effects on neurological outcome after IT morphine after spinal cord ischemia in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manabu Kakinohana
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
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Rusina R, Sheardová K, Rektorová I, Ridzon P, Kulist'ák P, Matej R. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease ? clinical and neuropathological considerations in two cases. Eur J Neurol 2007; 14:815-8. [PMID: 17594341 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2007.01759.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be accompanied by cognitive impairment; when present, it is mainly in the form of frontotemporal impairment. We report on two cases with clinically defined ALS that subsequently developed dementia. Neuropathological examination showed not only the typical neuropathological hallmarks characteristic of ALS but, surprisingly, also showed neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques in sufficient numbers to fulfill the diagnostic criteria of definite Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Rusina
- Department of Neurology, Institute for Postgraduate Medical Education and Thomayer Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
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25
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Sönmez A, Kabakçi B, Vardar E, Gürel D, Sönmez U, Orhan YT, Açikel U, Gökmen N. Erythropoietin attenuates neuronal injury and potentiates the expression of pCREB in anterior horn after transient spinal cord ischemia in rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 68:297-303; discussion 303. [PMID: 17368520 DOI: 10.1016/j.surneu.2006.11.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2006] [Accepted: 11/03/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have suggested that EPO activates the CREB transcription pathway and increases BDNF expression and production, which contributes to EPO-mediated neuroprotection. We investigated whether EPO has a neuroprotective effect against ISCI in rats and examined the involvement of CREB protein phosphorylation in this process. METHODS Spinal cord ischemia was produced by balloon occlusion of the abdominal aorta below the branching point of the left subclavian artery for 5 minutes, and rHu-EPO (1000 U/kg BW) was administered intravenously after the onset of the reperfusion. Neurologic status was assessed at 1, 24, and, 48 hours. After the end of 48 hours, spinal cords were harvested for histopathologic analysis and immunohistochemistry for pCREB. RESULTS All sham-operated rats had a normal neurologic outcome, whereas all ischemic rats suffered severe neurologic deficits after ISCI. Erythropoietin treatment was found to accelerate recovery of motor deficits and prevent the loss of motoneurons in the spinal cord after transient ischemia. Ischemic spinal cord injury induced the phosphorylation of pCREB at the anterior horn of the spinal cord, and EPO treatment significantly potentiated expression of pCREB increase at the anterior horn of the spinal cord. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that a single dose of EPO given before ISCI provides significant neuroprotection and potentiates the expression of pCREB in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ataç Sönmez
- Learning Resources Center Research Laboratory, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University Inciralti, TR-35340, Izmir, Turkey.
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Kakinohana M. [Spinal cord protection and opioids]. Masui 2007; 56:298-304. [PMID: 17366917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Opioids, when administered in large doses, were reported to produce brain damage primarily in limbic system and association areas in animals. We recently found the result that intrathecal (IT) morphine after a short interval of aortic occlusion in the rodent model induced transient spastic paraparesis via opioid receptor-coupled effects in the spinal cord. Histopathological analysis revealed the possibility that IT morphine could induce degeneration of spinal ventral neurons even after a short lasting of spinal cord ischaemia in rats, and this degeneration was associated with the activation of spinal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors by elevation of glutamate release in cerebrospinal fluid after IT morphine. Therefore, we would like to emphasize that all anesthesiologists should be aware of the possibility of morphine-induced paraplegia after thoracic aortic surgery and that we should carefully select appropriate analgesic agents from the several available opioids for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manabu Kakinohana
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa
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Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to clarify age-related changes in histograms of spinal anterior horn cells. The study examined Rexed lamina IX of the C7 spinal cord segment in 22 men who had died of non-spinal disease (age range, 0-85 years). First, we confirmed that the size of nucleoli exhibited a linear relationship to the diameter of spinal anterior horn cells by preparing histograms of nucleoli. Second, this formula was used to create histograms of cervical anterior horn cells. Results were as follows: (i) diameter of nucleoli ranged from 2.0 microm to 6.0 microm; (ii) in each subject, no changes were seen in histogram patterns among ventral, intermediate, dorsal and overall sections; (iii) at < or =20 years of age, histograms displayed a single peak for the diameter of nucleoli at about 4.0-4.5 microm; (iv) at 21-60 years of age, histograms displayed two peaks, at about 3.5-4.0 microm and 5.0-5.5 microm; and (v) at 61-85 years of age, histograms displayed a single peak at about 5.0-5.5 microm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yorito Anamizu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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Sethi PK, Khandelwal D, Thukral R, Sethi NK, Torgovnick J. Neuroimage: monomelic amyotrophy. Eur Neurol 2006; 56:261. [PMID: 17077640 DOI: 10.1159/000096678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2006] [Accepted: 08/02/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Mizuno Y, Amari M, Takatama M, Aizawa H, Mihara B, Okamoto K. Transferrin localizes in Bunina bodies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol 2006; 112:597-603. [PMID: 16896902 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-006-0122-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2006] [Revised: 07/13/2006] [Accepted: 07/13/2006] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Transferrin, an iron-binding protein, plays an important role in the transport and delivery of circulating ferric iron to the tissues. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the presence of Bunina bodies, skein-like inclusions, Lewy body-like inclusions/round inclusions, and basophilic inclusions in the remaining anterior horn cells in the spinal cord. We examined transverse paraffin sections of lumbar spinal cords from 12 ALS cases including two ALS with dementia and two ALS with basophilic inclusions, using antibodies to human transferrin. The results demonstrated that transferrin localized in Bunina bodies and some of the basophilic inclusions. In contrast, skein-like inclusions and Lewy body-like inclusions or round inclusions did not show obviously detectable transferrin immunoreactivities. Our findings suggest that although the mechanisms underlying transferrin accumulation in Bunina bodies and basophilic inclusions are unknown, transferrin could be involved in forming these inclusions. Furthermore, following cystatin C, transferrin is the second protein that localizes in the Bunina bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Mizuno
- Department of Neurology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
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Pardo AC, Wong V, Benson LM, Dykes M, Tanaka K, Rothstein JD, Maragakis NJ. Loss of the astrocyte glutamate transporter GLT1 modifies disease in SOD1G93A mice. Exp Neurol 2006; 201:120-30. [PMID: 16753145 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2006.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2005] [Revised: 03/12/2006] [Accepted: 03/30/2006] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have highlighted the role of astrocytes in the development of motor neuron disease in animal models. The astrocyte glutamate transporter GLT1 is responsible for a significant portion of glutamate transport from the synaptic cleft; regulating synaptic transmission and preventing glutamate excitotoxicity. While previous studies have demonstrated reductions in GLT1 with SOD1-mediated disease progression, it is not well established whether a reduction in this astrocyte-specific transporter alters the pathobiology of motor neuron degeneration in the SOD1(G93A) mouse. In order to address this possible astrocyte-specific influence, we crossed the SOD1(G93A) mouse line with a mouse heterozygous for GLT1 (GLT1+/-) exhibiting a significant reduction in transporter protein. Mice that carried both the SOD1 mutation and a reduced amount of GLT1 (SOD1(G93A)/GLT1+/-) exhibited an increase in the rate of motor decline accompanied by earlier motor neuron loss when compared with SOD1(G93A) mice. A modest reduction in survival was also noted in these mice. Dramatic losses of the GLT1 protein and reduced glutamate transport in the lumbar spinal cords of the SOD1(G93A)/GLT1+/- animals were also observed. GLT1 was not significantly changed in cortices from these animals suggesting that the effect of mutant SOD1 on GLT1 production/function was largely targeted to spinal cord rather than cortical astrocytes. This study suggests that astrocytes, and the astrocyte glutamate transporter GLT1, play a role in modifying disease progression and motor neuron loss in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea C Pardo
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, 600 N. Wolfe St., Meyer 6-119, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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Abstract
STUDY DESIGN An experimental animal study about neuronal loss and the expression of neurotrophic factors in the chronic compressive spinal cords. OBJECTIVES To investigate neuronal loss and the expression of neurotrophic factors in the chronic compressive spinal cords of rats, and to evaluate effects of decompressive procedures for the neuronal loss. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Chronic compression of spinal cords induces the loss of motor neurons in the anterior horn. However, the precise mechanism of this neuronal loss is not still understood completely. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether decompressive procedures prevent this neuronal loss or not. METHODS A thin expanding polymer sheet was implanted microsurgically underneath T7 laminae of rats. After 6, 9, 12, and 15 weeks, the thoracic spinal cord was harvested and examined histopathologically. The expression of neurotrophic factors, including NGF, BDNF, NT-3, GDNF, CNTF, and VEGF, was analyzed using semiquantitative RT-PCR, enzyme immunoassay, and immunohistochemistry. Decompressive surgery was performed through the removal of T7 laminae and the compression materials 6, 9, and 12 weeks after starting compression. Three weeks later, respectively, the neuronal loss in the anterior horn was estimated. RESULTS The spinal cords were progressively flattened by the expanding of the implanted polymer sheet, and the number of motor neurons in the anterior horn decreased, especially from 6 to 9 weeks after starting compression. Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of NGF and BDNF mRNAs was decreased significantly in the spinal cords of 12-week compression group compared with the 6-week compression group and that NGF mRNA expression was up-regulated significantly in the 6-week compression group relative to the 6-week control group. Any changes of expression of other neurotrophic factors were not significant. Since BDNF, not NGF, has been known to be one of the powerful survival factors for spinal motoneurons, we investigated the levels of BDNF protein in the compressive spinal cords using enzyme immunoassay and immunohistochemistry. We demonstrated the level of BDNF protein in the compressive spinal cords was increased 6 weeks after compression but declined after 12 weeks. The decompressive procedure in the 6 weeks after compression prevented neuronal loss, but the same procedure in the 9 or 12 weeks was ineffective. CONCLUSIONS From the point of view of neuronal loss, decompressive surgery at an earlier stage, when compensatory mechanisms including the up-regulation of BDNF might be still effective, could provide better therapeutic results against chronic mechanical compressive spinal cord lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuma Kasahara
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
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Xu K, Uchida K, Nakajima H, Kobayashi S, Baba H. Targeted retrograde transfection of adenovirus vector carrying brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene prevents loss of mouse (twy/twy) anterior horn neurons in vivo sustaining mechanical compression. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2006; 31:1867-74. [PMID: 16924202 DOI: 10.1097/01.brs.0000228772.53598.cc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Immunohistochemical analysis after adenovirus (AdV)-mediated BDNF gene transfer in and around the area of mechanical compression in the cervical spinal cord of the hyperostotic mouse (twy/twy). OBJECTIVE To investigate the neuroprotective effect of targeted AdV-BDNF gene transfection in the twy mouse with spontaneous chronic compression of the spinal cord motoneurons. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Several studies reported the neuroprotective effects of neurotrophins on injured spinal cord. However, no report has described the effect of targeted retrograde neurotrophic gene delivery on motoneuron survival in chronic compression lesions of the cervical spinal cord resembling lesions of myelopathy. METHODS LacZ marker gene using adenoviral vector (AdV-LacZ) was used to evaluate retrograde delivery from the sternomastoid muscle in adult twy mice (16-week-old) and (control). Four weeks after the AdV-LacZ or AdV-BDNF injection, the compressed cervical spinal cord was removed en bloc for immunohistologic investigation of b-galactosidase activity and immunoreactivity and immunoblot analyses of BDNF. The number of anterior horn neurons was counted using Nissl, ChAT and AChE staining. RESULTS Spinal accessory motoneurons between C1 and C3 segments were successfully transfected by AdV-LacZ in both twy and ICR mice after targeted intramuscular injection. Immunoreactivity to BDNF was significantly stronger in AdV-BDNF-gene transfected twy mice than in AdV-LacZ-gene transfected mice. At the cord level showing the maximum compression in AdV-BDNF-transfected twy mice, the number of anterior horn neurons was sinificantly higher in the topographic neuronal cell counting of Nissl-, ChAT-, and AChE-stained samples than in AdV-LacZ-injected twy mice. CONCLUSION Targeted AdV-BDNF-gene delivery significantly increased Nissl-stained anterior horn neurons and enhanced cholinergic enzyme activities in the twy. Our results suggest that targeted retrograde AdV-BDNF-gene in vivo delivery may enhance neuronal survival even under chronic mechanical compression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kan Xu
- Division of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Fukui Faculty of Medicine, Matsuoka, Fukui, Japan
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O'Neill GN, Gonzalez RG, Cros DP, Ackerman RH, Brown RH, Stemmer-Rachamimov A. Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Case 22-2006--a 77-year-old man with a rapidly progressive gait disorder. N Engl J Med 2006; 355:296-304. [PMID: 16855271 DOI: 10.1056/nejmcpc069013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Mizuno Y, Amari M, Takatama M, Aizawa H, Mihara B, Okamoto K. Immunoreactivities of p62, an ubiqutin-binding protein, in the spinal anterior horn cells of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Sci 2006; 249:13-8. [PMID: 16820172 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2006.05.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2006] [Revised: 05/18/2006] [Accepted: 05/19/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
An ubiquitin-binding protein, p62, is one of the components of the ubiquitin-containing inclusions in several human neurodegenerative diseases. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the presence of skein-like inclusions, Lewy body-like inclusions, and basophilic inclusions in the remaining anterior horn cells, in which these inclusions contain ubiquitin, while the other characteristic inclusions of Bunina type are ubiquitin-negative. We examined the spinal cord from 28 ALS cases including two ALS with dementia and two ALS with basophilic inclusions, using antibody to p62. The results demonstrated that p62 localized in skein-like inclusions, Lewy body-like inclusions and basophilic inclusions. The number of p62-positive inclusions observed in the remaining anterior horn cells of each section was variable among the ALS cases. In contrast, Bunina bodies, that do not contain ubiquitin, were negative for p62. As far as we examined, the 11 non-ALS cases did not show any p62 immunoreactivities in the anterior horn cells. Our results suggested that p62 plays important roles in forming the inclusions and may be associated with the protection of the neurons from degenerative processes involving ubiquitin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Mizuno
- Department of Neurology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C França
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Campinas State University (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil.
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Piao Y, Wakabayashi K, Kakita A, Yamada M, Hayashi S, Morita T, Ikuta F, Oyanagi K, Takahashi H. Neuropathology with clinical correlations of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: 102 autopsy cases examined between 1962 and 2000. Brain Pathol 2006; 13:10-22. [PMID: 12580541 PMCID: PMC8095891 DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3639.2003.tb00002.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disorder affecting adults. We studied the neuropathology and clinical correlations in 102 autopsy cases of ALS. The age at onset of the disease was significantly higher for the bulbaronset form (30 cases) than for the limb-onset form (72 cases). Dementia was confirmed in 7 cases. These 102 cases were divided into 4 pathological subgroups: typical ALS (59 cases), lower-motor-predominant ALS (23 cases), ALS with temporal lesions (18 cases), and ALS with pallido-nigro-luysian degeneration (2 cases). The age at onset was significantly higher for lower-motor-predominant ALS and ALS with temporal lesions than for typical ALS. In the lower motor neurons, Bunina bodies were detected in 88 cases, whereas ubiquitin-immunoreactive skein and/or spherical inclusions were detected in all 102 cases. Of the 100 available cases, 50 and 16 also showed ubiquitin-immunoreactive inclusions in the neostriatal and temporal small neurons, respectively. Ubiquitin-immunoreactive dystrophic neurites were also observed in the neostriatum in 3 of the 50 cases with neostriatal inclusions, and in the temporal cortex in 4 of the 16 cases with temporal inclusions. There was a significant association between the bulbar-onset form, temporal lesions, neostriatal inclusions and temporal inclusions, and between dementia, temporal lesions and temporal inclusions. Neostriatal and temporal dystrophic neurites were associated with dementia and bulbar-onset form through temporal lesions and temporal inclusions. The present findings may be helpful for designing further studies on the mechanisms underlying the development of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue‐Shan Piao
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Japan
| | - Koichi Wakabayashi
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Japan
- Brain Disease Research Center, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Japan
| | - Mitsunori Yamada
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Japan
| | - Shintaro Hayashi
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Japan
| | - Takashi Morita
- Department of Pathology, Shinrakuen Hospital, Niigata, Japan
| | - Fusahiro Ikuta
- Niigata Neurosurgical Hospital and Brain Research Center, Japan
| | - Kiyomitsu Oyanagi
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Takahashi
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Japan
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Abstract
The mechanisms of injury- and disease-related degeneration of motor neurons (MNs) need clarification. Unilateral avulsion of the sciatic nerve in the mouse induces apoptosis of spinal MNs that is p53 and Bax dependent. We tested the hypothesis that MN apoptosis is Fas death receptor dependent and triggered by nitric oxide (NO)- and superoxide-mediated damage to DNA. MNs in mice lacking functional Fas receptor and Fas ligand were protected from apoptosis. Fas protein levels and cleaved caspase-8 increased in MNs after injury. Fas upregulation was p53 dependent. MNs in mice deficient in neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) resisted apoptosis. After injury, MNs increased nNOS protein but decreased iNOS protein; however, iNOS contributed more than nNOS to basal and injury-induced levels of NADPH diaphorase activity in MNs. NO and peroxynitrite (ONOO-) fluorescence increased in injured MNs, as did nitrotyrosine staining of MNs. DNA damage, assessed as 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and single-stranded DNA, accumulated within injured MNs and was attenuated by nNOS and iNOS deficiency. nNOS deficiency increased DNA repair protein oxoguanine DNA-glycosylase, whereas iNOS deficiency blocked diaphorase activity. MN apoptosis was blocked by the antioxidant Trolox and by overexpression of wild-type human superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1). In contrast, injured MNs in mice harboring mutant human SOD1 had upregulated Fas and iNOS, escalated DNA damage, and accelerated and increased MN degeneration and underwent necrosis instead of apoptosis. Thus, adult spinal MN apoptosis is mediated by upstream NO and ONOO- genotoxicity and downstream p53 and Fas activation and is shifted to necrosis by mutant SOD1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee J Martin
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205-2196, USA.
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Sone J, Hishikawa N, Koike H, Hattori N, Hirayama M, Nagamatsu M, Yamamoto M, Tanaka F, Yoshida M, Hashizume Y, Imamura H, Yamada E, Sobue G. Neuronal intranuclear hyaline inclusion disease showing motor-sensory and autonomic neuropathy. Neurology 2006; 65:1538-43. [PMID: 16301479 DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000184490.22527.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuronal intranuclear hyaline inclusion disease (NIHID), a rare neurodegenerative disease in which eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions develop mainly in neurons, has not yet been described to present as hereditary motor-sensory and autonomic neuropathy. METHODS Patients in two NIHID families showing peripheral neuropathy were evaluated clinically, electrophysiologically, and histopathologically. RESULTS In both families, patients had severe muscle atrophy and weakness in limbs, limb girdle, and face; sensory impairment in the distal limbs; dysphagia, episodic intestinal pseudoobstruction with vomiting attacks; and urinary and fecal incontinence. No patients developed symptoms suggesting CNS involvement. Electrophysiologic study showed the reduced motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities and amplitudes, and also extensive denervation potentials. In sural nerve specimens, numbers of myelinated and unmyelinated fibers were decreased. In two autopsy cases, eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions were widespread, particularly in sympathetic and myenteric ganglion neurons, dorsal root ganglion neurons, and spinal motor neurons. These neurons also were decreased in number. CONCLUSION Patients with neuronal intranuclear hyaline inclusion disease (NIHID) can manifest symptoms limited to those of peripheral neuropathy. NIHID therefore is part of the differential diagnosis of hereditary motor-sensory neuropathy associated with autonomic symptoms. Intranuclear hyaline inclusions in Schwann cells and in the myenteric plexus may permit antemortem diagnosis of NIHID.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Sone
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
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Stephens B, Guiloff RJ, Navarrete R, Newman P, Nikhar N, Lewis P. Widespread loss of neuronal populations in the spinal ventral horn in sporadic motor neuron disease. A morphometric study. J Neurol Sci 2006; 244:41-58. [PMID: 16487542 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2005.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2005] [Accepted: 12/14/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The cytopathology and loss of neurons was studied in 7670 neurons from the ventral horn of the third lumbar segment of the spinal cord of six sporadic motor neuron disease (MND) patients compared with 7568 neurons in seven age matched control subjects. A modified Tomlinson et al. [Tomlinson BE, Irving D, Rebeiz JJ. Total numbers of limb motor neurones in the human lumbosacral cord and an analysis of the accuracy of various sampling procedures. J Neurol Sci 1973;20:313-27] sampling procedure was used for neuronal counts. The ventral horn was divided in quadrants. Neuronal populations were also classified by the maximum cell diameter through the nucleolus. There was widespread loss of neurons in all quadrants of the ventral horn in MND. Size distribution histograms showed similar neuron loss across all populations of neurons. The dorsomedial quadrant contains almost exclusively interneurons and the ventrolateral quadrant mostly motor neurons. The cytopathology of neurons in the dorsomedial quadrant and of large motorneurons in the ventrolateral quadrant MND was similar. In the dorsomedial quadrant, neuron loss (56.7%) was similar to the loss of large motor neurons in the ventrolateral quadrant (64.4%). The loss of presumed motor neurons and interneurons increased with increased disease duration. There was no evidence that loss of presumed interneurons occurred prior, or subsequent, to loss of motor neurons. We conclude that, in sporadic MND, all neuronal populations in the ventral horn are affected and that interneurons are involved to a similar extent and in parallel with motor neurons, as reported in the G86R transgenic mouse model of familial MND. The increasing evidence of loss of neurons other than motor neurons in MND suggests the need for revising the concept of selective motor neuron vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Stephens
- Neuromuscular Unit, West London Neurosciences Centre, Imperial College London, UK
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Platania P, Seminara G, Aronica E, Troost D, Vincenza Catania M, Angela Sortino M. 17beta-estradiol rescues spinal motoneurons from AMPA-induced toxicity: a role for glial cells. Neurobiol Dis 2006; 20:461-70. [PMID: 15893467 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2005.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2004] [Revised: 02/16/2005] [Accepted: 03/28/2005] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of astrocytes to mediate 17beta-estradiol neuroprotection of spinal motoneurons challenged with AMPA has been evaluated in a co-culture system in which pure motoneurons were pulsed with 20 microM AMPA and then transferred onto an astrocyte layer pretreated for 24 h with 10 nM 17beta-estradiol. Under these conditions, AMPA toxicity was reverted, an effect that was likely related to increased production and release of GDNF, as shown by RT-PCR, Western blot analysis and ELISA assay. In addition, treatment with GDNF during the 24 h that followed the AMPA pulse produced a similar neuroprotective effect, whereas addition of a neutralizing anti-GDNF antibody prevented neuroprotection. These data suggest a role for astrocytes in the neuroprotective effect of 17beta-estradiol against spinal motoneuron death and find strong support in the marked up-regulation of estrogen receptor alpha found in spinal astrocytes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Platania
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
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Thakore NJ, Pioro EP, Rucker JC, Leigh RJ. Motor neuronopathy with dropped hands and downbeat nystagmus: a distinctive disorder? A case report. BMC Neurol 2006; 6:3. [PMID: 16409626 PMCID: PMC1351204 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2377-6-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2005] [Accepted: 01/12/2006] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Eye movements are clinically normal in most patients with motor neuron disorders until late in the disease course. Rare patients are reported to show slow vertical saccades, impaired smooth pursuit, and gaze-evoked nystagmus. We report clinical and oculomotor findings in three patients with motor neuronopathy and downbeat nystagmus, a classic sign of vestibulocerebellar disease. Case presentation All patients had clinical and electrodiagnostic features of anterior horn cell disease. Involvement of finger and wrist extensors predominated, causing finger and wrist drop. Bulbar or respiratory dysfunction did not occur. All three had clinically evident downbeat nystagmus worse on lateral and downgaze, confirmed on eye movement recordings using the magnetic search coil technique in two patients. Additional oculomotor findings included alternating skew deviation and intermittent horizontal saccadic oscillations, in one patient each. One patient had mild cerebellar atrophy, while the other two had no cerebellar or brainstem abnormality on neuroimaging. The disorder is slowly progressive, with survival up to 30 years from the time of onset. Conclusion The combination of motor neuronopathy, characterized by early and prominent wrist and finger extensor weakness, and downbeat nystagmus with or without other cerebellar eye movement abnormalities may represent a novel motor neuron syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimish J Thakore
- Department of Neurology, MetroHealth Medical Center, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Erik P Pioro
- Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Janet C Rucker
- Department of Neurology, Rush University, 1725 West Harrison, Chicago IL 60612, USA
| | - R John Leigh
- Department of Neurology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
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Gilbert SL, Zhang L, Forster ML, Anderson JR, Iwase T, Soliven B, Donahue LR, Sweet HO, Bronson RT, Davisson MT, Wollmann RL, Lahn BT. Trak1 mutation disrupts GABA(A) receptor homeostasis in hypertonic mice. Nat Genet 2005; 38:245-50. [PMID: 16380713 DOI: 10.1038/ng1715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2005] [Accepted: 09/12/2005] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hypertonia, which results from motor pathway defects in the central nervous system (CNS), is observed in numerous neurological conditions, including cerebral palsy, stroke, spinal cord injury, stiff-person syndrome, spastic paraplegia, dystonia and Parkinson disease. Mice with mutation in the hypertonic (hyrt) gene exhibit severe hypertonia as their primary symptom. Here we show that hyrt mutant mice have much lower levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptors in their CNS, particularly the lower motor neurons, than do wild-type mice, indicating that the hypertonicity of the mutants is likely to be caused by deficits in GABA-mediated motor neuron inhibition. We cloned the responsible gene, trafficking protein, kinesin binding 1 (Trak1), and showed that its protein product interacts with GABA(A) receptors. Our data implicate Trak1 as a crucial regulator of GABA(A) receptor homeostasis and underscore the importance of hyrt mice as a model for studying the molecular etiology of hypertonia associated with human neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra L Gilbert
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
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Tarabal O, Calderó J, Casas C, Oppenheim RW, Esquerda JE. Protein retention in the endoplasmic reticulum, blockade of programmed cell death and autophagy selectively occur in spinal cord motoneurons after glutamate receptor-mediated injury. Mol Cell Neurosci 2005; 29:283-98. [PMID: 15911352 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2005.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2004] [Revised: 03/03/2005] [Accepted: 03/04/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously showed that, in contrast to the acute administration of NMDA, chronic treatment of chick embryos from embryonic day (E) 5 to E9 with this excitotoxin rescues motoneurons (MNs) from programmed cell death. Following this protocol, MNs are also protected against later acute excitotoxic cell death. Previously, we found that MNs treated from E5 to E9 develop long-lasting changes involving vesicular trafficking and other organelle pathology similar to the abnormalities observed in certain chronic neurological diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here we extend these previous results by showing that protein aggregation within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) takes place selectively in MNs as an early event of chronic excitotoxicity. Although protein aggregates do not induce appreciable MN death, they foreshadow the activation of a conspicuous autophagic response leading to long-lasting degenerative changes that causes dysfunction but not immediate cell death. Chronic early treatment with NMDA results in a transient (between E6 and E10) lack of vulnerability to undergo cell death induced by different types of stimuli. It is suggested that blockade of protein translation in stressed ER may inhibit apoptosis in NMDA-treated MNs. However, in embryos older than E12, degenerating MNs are sensitized to die after limb ablation (axotomy) and accumulate hyperphosphorylated neurofilaments. Moreover, chronic NMDA treatment does not induce the upregulation of molecular chaperones in spinal cord. These results represent a new model of glutamate receptor-mediated neurotoxicity that selectively occurs in spinal cord MNs and also demonstrate an experimental system that may be valuable for understanding the mechanisms involved in chronic MN degeneration and in certain cytological hallmarks of ALS-diseased MNs such as inclusion bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Tarabal
- Unitat de Neurobiologia Cel.lular, Departament de Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida, C. Montserrat Roig 2, E25008 Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
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Marubuchi S, Wada YI, Okuda T, Hara Y, Qi ML, Hoshino M, Nakagawa M, Kanazawa I, Okazawa H. Polyglutamine tract-binding protein-1 dysfunction induces cell death of neurons through mitochondrial stress. J Neurochem 2005; 95:858-70. [PMID: 16104847 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03405.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine tract-binding protein-1 (PQBP-1) is a nuclear protein that interacts and colocalizes with mutant polyglutamine proteins. We previously reported that PQBP-1 transgenic mice show a late-onset motor neuron disease-like phenotype and cell death of motor neurons analogous to human neurodegeneration. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the motor neuron death, we performed microarray analyses using the anterior horn tissues of the spinal cord and compared gene expression profiles between pre-symptomatic transgenic and age-matched control mice. Surprisingly, half of the spots changed more than 1.5-fold turned out to be genes transcribed from the mitochondrial genome. Northern and western analyses confirmed up-regulation of representative mitochondrial genes, cytochrome c oxidase (COX) subunit 1 and 2. Immunohistochemistry revealed that COX1 and COX2 proteins are increased in spinal motor neurons. Electron microscopic analyses revealed morphological abnormalities of mitochondria in the motor neurons. PQBP-1 overexpression in primary neurons by adenovirus vector induced abnormalities of mitochondrial membrane potential from day 5, while cytochrome c release and caspase 3 activation were observed on day 9. An increase of cell death by PQBP-1 was also confirmed on day 9. Collectively, these results indicate that dysfunction of PQBP-1 induces mitochondrial stress, a key molecular pathomechanism that is shared among human neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeki Marubuchi
- Department of Neuropathology, Medical Research Institute and Center of Excellence Program (COE) for Brain Integration and Its Disorders, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
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Kato S, Kato M, Abe Y, Matsumura T, Nishino T, Aoki M, Itoyama Y, Asayama K, Awaya A, Hirano A, Ohama E. Redox system expression in the motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): immunohistochemical studies on sporadic ALS, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)-mutated familial ALS, and SOD1-mutated ALS animal models. Acta Neuropathol 2005; 110:101-12. [PMID: 15983830 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-005-1019-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2004] [Revised: 03/09/2005] [Accepted: 03/09/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Peroxiredoxin-ll (Prxll) and glutathione peroxidase-l (GPxl) are regulators of the redox system that is one of the most crucial supporting systems in neurons. This system is an antioxidant enzyme defense system and is synchronously linked to other important cell supporting systems. To clarify the common self-survival mechanism of the residual motor neurons affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we examined motor neurons from 40 patients with sporadic ALS (SALS) and 5 patients with superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)-mutated familial ALS (FALS) from two different families (frame-shift 126 mutation and A4 V) as well as four different strains of the SOD1-mutated ALS models (H46R/G93A rats and G1H/G1L-G93A mice). We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of Prxll/GPxl in motor neurons from the viewpoint of the redox system. In normal subjects, Prxll/GPxl immunoreactivity in the anterior horns of the normal spinal cords of humans, rats and mice was primarily identified in the neurons: cytoplasmic staining was observed in almost all of the motor neurons. Histologically, the number of spinal motor neurons in ALS decreased with disease progression. Immunohistochemically, the number of neurons negative for Prxll/GPxl increased with ALS disease progression. Some residual motor neurons coexpressing Prxll/GPxl were, however, observed throughout the clinical courses in some cases of SALS patients, SOD1-mutated FALS patients, and ALS animal models. In particular, motor neurons overexpressing Prxll/GPxl, i.e., neurons showing redox system up-regulation, were commonly evident during the clinical courses in ALS. For patients with SALS, motor neurons overexpressing Prxll/GPxl were present mainly within approximately 3 years after disease onset, and these overexpressing neurons thereafter decreased in number dramatically as the disease progressed. For SOD1-mutated FALS patients, like in SALS patients, certain residual motor neurons without inclusions also overexpressed Prxll/GPxl in the short-term-surviving FALS patients. In the ALS animal models, as in the human diseases, certain residual motor neurons showed overexpression of Prxll/GPxl during their clinical courses. At the terminal stage of ALS, however, a disruption of this common Prxll/GPxl-overexpression mechanism in neurons was observed. These findings lead us to the conclusion that the residual ALS neurons showing redox system up-regulation would be less susceptible to ALS stress and protect themselves from ALS neuronal death, whereas the breakdown of this redox system at the advanced disease stage accelerates neuronal degeneration and/or the process of neuronal death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinsuke Kato
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Nishi-cho 36-1, 683-8504, Yonago, Japan.
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46
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Moshonkina TR, Gilerovich EG, Fedorova EA, Avelev VD, Gerasimenko YP, Otellin VA. Morphofunctional basis for recovery of locomotor movements in rats with completely crossed spinal cord. Bull Exp Biol Med 2005; 138:198-201. [PMID: 15751150 DOI: 10.1023/b:bebm.0000048388.76324.9c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Treadmill training of spinalized rats creates conditions for early appearance of rhythmic locomotor movements of the hind limbs. Recovery of the movements was paralleled by an appropriate structural organization of neurons in the anterior horns of the distal compartment of the spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- T R Moshonkina
- Laboratory of Motor Physiology, I. P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg.
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Pearse DD, Lo TP, Cho KS, Lynch MP, Garg MS, Marcillo AE, Sanchez AR, Cruz Y, Dietrich WD. Histopathological and Behavioral Characterization of a Novel Cervical Spinal Cord Displacement Contusion Injury in the Rat. J Neurotrauma 2005; 22:680-702. [PMID: 15941377 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2005.22.680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical contusive trauma accounts for the majority, of human spinal cord injury (SCI), yet experimental use of cervical contusion injury models has been limited. Considering that (1) the different ways of injuring the spinal cord (compression, contusion, and transection) induce very different processes of tissue damage and (2) the architecture of the spinal cord is not uniform, it is important to use a model that is more clinically applicable to human SCI. Therefore, in the current study we have developed a rat model of contusive, cervical SCI using the Electromagnetic Spinal Cord Injury Device (ESCID) developed at Ohio State University (OSU) to induce injury by spinal cord displacement. We used the device to perform mild, moderate and severe injuries (0.80, 0.95, and 1.1 mm displacements, respectively) with a single, brief displacement of <20 msec upon the exposed dorsal surface of the C5 cervical spinal cord of female (180-200 g) Fischer rats. Characterization of the model involved the analysis of the temporal histopathological progression of the injury over 9 weeks using histochemical stains to analyze white and gray mater integrity and immunohistochemistry to examine cellular changes and physiological responses within the injured spinal cord. Accompanying the histological analysis was a comprehensive determination of the behavioral functionality of the animals using a battery of motor tests. Characterization of this novel model is presented to enable and encourage its future use in the design and experimental testing of therapeutic strategies that may be used for human SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- D D Pearse
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101, USA.
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Malomo AO, Owoeye O, Elumelu TN, Akang EEU, Adenipekun A, Campbell OB, Shokunbi MT. The effect of dexamethasone, metronidazole and ascorbic acid on the morphological changes induced by gamma rays on the spinal cord of Wistar rats. Afr J Med Med Sci 2005; 34:161-5. [PMID: 16749341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
We studied the effects of dexamethasone, ascorbic acid, and metronidazole on the irradiated spinal cord of Wistar rats. Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups. Five rats served as the control group. Another group of 5 rats were irradiated in the neural axis with 2.5 Gy of gamma rays. The last group of 20 rats were irradiated and then divided into four subgroups of 5 rats each: one subgroup was administered dexamethasone alone, a second subgroup had metronidazole alone, a third subgroup was treated with dexamethasone and metronidazole combined, and a fourth subgroup had ascorbic acid alone, given intraperitoneally for 7 days before exposure to radiation, and also for 5 days after-irradiation. All irradiated animals demonstrated similar vascular changes in form of splitting of the smooth muscle layers of the arterioles of the anterior spinal arteries. Similarly, all the irradiated spinal cord demonstrated shrinkages as noted in the diminution of the neuronal sizes measured by a microscope with a micrometer embedded in the eye-piece objective. The drugs did not individually protect neurons from damage at the level of our investigation. However, the combination of dexamethasone and metronidazole produced a reduction of the degenerative effect of radiation on the neurons when the post-irradiation diameters of the neurons were compared with the control and those of the other experimental groups. We conclude that gamma ray induced damage in the spinal cord may be ameliorated by combining dexamethasone with metronidazole but not by individual treatment with any of the three drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A O Malomo
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
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49
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Qi HX, Stewart Phillips W, Kaas JH. Connections of neurons in the lumbar ventral horn of spinal cord are altered after long-standing limb loss in a macaque monkey. Somatosens Mot Res 2005; 21:229-39. [PMID: 15763908 DOI: 10.1080/08990220400012588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Explanations for the massive reorganization in primary motor cortex, M1, after limb amputation typically focus on processes that occur in cortex. Few have investigated whether changes in more peripheral parts of the pathway might also play a role in the reorganization. In the present study, we examined the integrity and connectivity of the spinal cord motoneurons in a macaque monkey (Macaca mulatta) that lost a hindlimb as a result of accidental injury more than 3.5 years earlier. To label motoneurons, multiple small injections of a neuroanatomical tracer were placed in the muscles of the hip just adjacent to the stump of the amputated leg, and in matched locations in the opposite side for control purposes. Injections of a second tracer were made in the intact foot. In the ventral horn that related to the intact hindlimb, motoneurons labeled by the hip injections were concentrated rostral and ventromedial to those labeled by the foot injections. Hip injections on the side of the amputation labeled neurons that were located well beyond the normal territory for motoneurons related to the hip and into the zone normally occupied by neurons projecting to the foot. Labeled motoneurons innervating the intact limb were significantly larger than neurons on the side of the amputation (x = 2410 and 2061 microm(2), respectively). The findings suggest that many neurons survived the long-standing amputation, and made new connections with remaining intact muscles. These new patterns of connectivity likely contribute to the reorganization of motor cortex in amputees, and perhaps to abnormal behaviors like those reported by human amputees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Xin Qi
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
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Long JB, Yourick DL, Slusher BS, Robinson MB, Meyerhoff JL. Inhibition of glutamate carboxypeptidase II (NAALADase) protects against dynorphin A-induced ischemic spinal cord injury in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 2005; 508:115-22. [PMID: 15680261 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2004.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2004] [Revised: 12/01/2004] [Accepted: 12/06/2004] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Glutamate carboxypeptidase (GCP) II (EC 3.4.17.21), which is also known as N-acetylated-alpha-linked acidic dipeptidase (NAALADase), hydrolyses the endogenous acidic dipeptide N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG), yielding N-acetyl-aspartate and glutamate. Inhibition of this enzyme by 2-(phosphonomethyl) pentanedioic acid (2-PMPA) has been shown to protect against ischemic injury to the brain and hypoxic and metabolic injury to neuronal cells in culture, presumably by increasing and decreasing the extracellular concentrations of NAAG and glutamate, respectively. Since both NAAG and GCP II are found in especially high concentrations in the spinal cord, injuries to the spinal cord involving pathophysiological elevations in extracellular glutamate might be particularly responsive to GCP II inhibition. Lumbar subarachnoid injections of dynorphin A in rats cause ischemic spinal cord injury, elevated extracellular glutamate and a persistent hindlimb paralysis that is mediated through excitatory amino acid receptors. We therefore used this injury model to evaluate the protective effects of 2-PMPA. When coadministered with dynorphin A, 2-PMPA significantly attenuated the dynorphin A-induced elevations in cerebrospinal fluid glutamate levels and by 24 h postinjection caused significant dose-dependent improvements in motor scores that were associated with marked histopathological improvements. These results indicate that 2-PMPA provides effective protection against excitotoxic spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph B Long
- Department of Polytrauma and Resuscitation Research, Division of Military Casualty Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910-7500, USA.
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