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Axonal degeneration, distal collateral branching and neuromuscular junction architecture alterations occur prior to symptom onset in the SOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Citation
Clark, JA and Southam, KA and Blizzard, CA and King, AE and Dickson, TC, Axonal degeneration, distal collateral branching and neuromuscular junction architecture alterations occur prior to symptom onset in the SOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 76, (Pt A) pp. 35-47. ISSN 0891-0618 (2016) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2016 Elsevier B.V.
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.jchemneu.2016.03.003
Abstract
Degeneration of the distal axon and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is considered a key and early feature
of the pathology that accompanies motor neuron loss in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The mutant SOD1G93A mouse replicates many features of the disease, however the sequence of events
resulting in degeneration of the neuromuscular circuitry remains unknown. Furthermore, despite
widespread degenerative neuronal pathology throughout the spinal cord in this model, hindlimb motor
function is lost before forelimb function. We investigated axons and NMJs in the hindlimb
(gastrocnemius) and forelimb (extensor) muscles in the high copy number mutant SOD1G93AxYFP
(yellow fluorescent protein) mouse. We found that distal axonal and NMJ alterations were present prior
to previously reported functional symptom onset in this strain. Indeed, increased branch complexity as
well as colocalisation between pre- and post-synaptic markers indicated widespread early axonal and
NMJ alterations in the hindlimb. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the colocalisation of
the scaffolding proteins nestin, LRP-4, dystrophin and rapsyn were diminished before post-synaptic
receptors in the gastrocnemius, and the degree of loss differed between proteins. Analysis of the forelimb
muscle revealed axonal and NMJ degeneration at a late, post symptomatic stage, as well as novel
differences in NMJ morphology, with reduced complexity. Furthermore, post-synaptic scaffolding
proteins were preserved in the forelimb compared with the hindlimb. Analysis of protein levels indicated
an increase in LRP-4, dystrophin and rapsyn in post symptomatic skeletal muscle that may suggest
ongoing attempts at repair. This study indicates that axonal and NMJ degeneration in the SOD1 model of
ALS is a complex and evolving sequence of events. We provide evidence that YFP can detect
morphological and plastic alterations in the SOD1G93A mouse, and that the pre- and post-synaptic
integrity of the NMJ plays an important role in the pathogenic mechanisms of ALS.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | neuromuscular junction, SOD1G93A, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, distal 'dying back' degeneration, forelimb pathology |
| Research Division: | Biomedical and Clinical Sciences |
| Research Group: | Neurosciences |
| Research Field: | Neurology and neuromuscular diseases |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Clinical health |
| Objective Field: | Clinical health not elsewhere classified |
| UTAS Author: | Clark, JA (Mr Jayden Clark) |
| UTAS Author: | Southam, KA (Dr Katherine Southam) |
| UTAS Author: | Blizzard, CA (Dr Catherine Blizzard) |
| UTAS Author: | King, AE (Professor Anna King) |
| UTAS Author: | Dickson, TC (Professor Tracey Dickson) |
| ID Code: | 109202 |
| Year Published: | 2016 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 28 |
| Deposited By: | Medicine |
| Deposited On: | 2016-06-01 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-11-06 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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