title: NFH-LacZ transgenic mice: regional brain activity of cytochrome oxidase.
abstract: Expression of the NFH-LacZ fusion protein in transgenic mice causes an early accumulation of neurofilament proteins in the cell bodies of neurons, as well as a reduction of motor neuron axonal caliber and Purkinje cell number in the cerebellum. Young (3 month old) and older (12-20 months) NFH-LacZ transgenic mice were compared to normal controls for regional brain metabolism, as assessed by cytochrome oxidase (CO) activity. Irrespective of age, CO activity was reduced in three cerebellar-related regions of NFH-LacZ transgenic mice: (1) the lateral reticular nucleus, (2) the parvicellular red nucleus, and (3) the superior colliculus, possibly as a secondary consequence of cerebellar Purkinje cell histopathology. Aged NFH-LacZ mice had lower CO activity relative to either age-matched controls or young transgenic mice in the following regions: the motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, the trapezoid nucleus, the subiculum, the motor cortex, the superior olive, and the lateral dorsal thalamus. These results indicate regional and age-selective deficits of brain metabolism in a transgenic model with neurofilament maldistribution.
authors.affiliation: Université de Rouen, Faculté des Sciences, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie de l'Apprentissage, UPRES PSY.CO-EA 1780, 76821, Mont-Saint-Aignan Cedex, France. straziel@persmail.uhp-nancy.fr
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Strazielle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eyer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lalonde
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D003720:Densitometry; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000502:physiology; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019076:Transgenes; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C051774:neurofilament protein H; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D001616:beta-Galactosidase