Spatial and temporal distribution of Bax in rat spinal cord during normal aging.
Amytrophic lateral sclerosis is characterized by relentlessly progressive degeneration of spinal cord motor neurons. During the disease, the bcl-2 family genes have been reported to alter their expression levels. To understand the meaning of these changes, the expression pattern of Bax in rat spinal cord and its changing pattern during normal aging were investigated by immunohistochemical staining. Spatial expression of the protein showed a diffuse distribution pattern with immunoreactivity more prominent in the anterior hom. With advancement of age, the cell densities of Bax-positive cells tended to increase. The increasing expression of Bax might be positively associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This work demonstrates for the first time how Bax expression changes in rat spinal cord during normal aging.
Kim
J M
JM
Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Chongno-ku Yunkeun-dong 28, Seoul 110-744, South Korea.
Chung
Y H
YH
Shin
C M
CM
Kim
M J
MJ
Lee
K W
KW
Cha
C I
CI
D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000870:Anterior Horn Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002452:Cell Count; D008297:Male; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494828:Bax protein, rat; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein