title: Effects of an ectodermal microceptor preparation on motor coordination in cerebellar mutant mice.
abstract: Lurcher mutant mice, characterized by degeneration of the olivocerebellar system, and dystonia musculorum (dt) mutant mice, characterized by degeneration of spinocerebellar fibers, were treated with an ectodermal microceptor preparation (EMP), a compound containing natural substances derived from embryonic bovine ectodermal tissue, or with placebo, and evaluated in motor coordination tests. EMP-treated lurchers, but not dt mutants, were quicker to initiate movement than placebo-treated controls in the inclined beam test. No group differences were found in terms of distance travelled on the beam or in motor coordination assessed in a more challenging coat-hanger test. These results indicate that ectodermal microceptors may improve movement initiation of cerebellar-related disorders in animals, but that these effects are test and disease-specific.
authors.affiliation: Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Neurology Service, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lalonde
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Botez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bontemps
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology*; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000502:physiology; D005527:Food, Fortified; D051379:Mice; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants; D009752:Nutritional Status; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014020:Tissue Extracts