The mRNA expression of AMPA type glutamate receptors in the primary motor cortex of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an in situ hybridization study.
The pathogenetic mechanisms leading to progressive neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have not been fully elucidated. One possible factor responsible for the selective motor neuron loss in the motor cortex, brain stem and spinal cord is glutamate-induced excitotoxicity particularly mediated via alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) type glutamate receptors. Data about the expression pattern of AMPA receptors in the primary motor cortex are lacking so far. The pharmacological and physiological properties of AMPA receptors are defined by the heteromeric composition of the four different receptor subunits. Different expression patterns of these subunits at motor neurons may provide a molecular basis for increased vulnerability to excitotoxic damage. Using in situ hybridization histochemistry we did not detect any significant differences in the distribution of AMPA receptor mRNA in the motor cortex of ALS patients compared to controls.
Petri
Susanne
S
Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, D-30623 Hannover, Germany. petri.susanne@mh-hannover.de
Krampfl
Klaus
K
Hashemi
Fariba
F
Schmalbach
Sonja
S
Grothe
Claudia
C
Hori
Akira
A
Dengler
Reinhard
R
Bufler
Johannes
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001345:Autoradiography / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018091:Receptors, AMPA