title: Clenbuterol retards loss of motor function in motor neuron degeneration mice.
abstract: Motor neuron degeneration (mnd) mice exhibit lysosomal accumulation of lipofuscin-like material that is associated with progressive loss of motor function and strength. Motor dysfunction scores at 8.5-9 months of age were highly correlated with the occurrence of abnormal spinal motor neurons with eccentric nuclei, although the total numbers of motor neurons were not significantly reduced. Nuclear eccentricity is a characteristic of the axon reaction that results from injury and subsequent compensatory axonal sprouting indicating axonal/synaptic dysfunction in mnd motor neurons. Treatment with clenbuterol, a beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist that can enhance regeneration of motor neuron axons, opposed the development of motor deficits in parallel with a reduced proportion of motor neurons with eccentric nuclei consistent with improved synaptic function. Clenbuterol also opposed decreases in grip strength and muscle mass suggesting beta(2)-agonist treatment as a potential therapeutic modality for lipofuscinoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA. Zeman@nymc.edu
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Zeman
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Etlinger
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002976:Clenbuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009472:Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D002976:Clenbuterol