title: Receptor alterations associated with spinal motoneuron degeneration in bovine Akabane disease.
abstract: Akabane disease in cattle is characterized by congenital abnormalities including arthrogryposis, which is characterized by a depletion of spinal ventral horn motoneurons, a loss of axons, and depletion of myelin in the lateral and ventral tracts. These neuropathological changes produced major reductions (70-80%) in the density of muscarinic cholinergic, glycine/strychnine, and central-type benzodiazepine receptors in the ventral horn motor nuclei. The density of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors and adenosine A1 receptors was dramatically increased (250-300%) in the lateral and ventral spinal columns, reflecting the proliferation of glial cells. Bovine Akabane disease represents a useful model for assessing the processes and consequences of neuronal degeneration and demyelination and has implications for human diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gundlach
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Grabara
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Harper
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D001102:Arbovirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter