[Lesion mechanism dependent, differential changes in neurofilaments and microtubules: a pathological and experimental study].
BACKGROUND
The consequences of axonal or demyelinating injuries on the axonal cytoskeleton have rarely been described.


METHODS
We have compared the density of fibers labeled by anti-neurofilaments (NF) and -beta tubulin (TUB) to the density of total fibers in nine patients with axonal neuropathies of undetermined etiology (AUE), six with necrotizing angeitis with neuropathy (NAN), seven with chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy (CIDP) and in five controls, as well as in six patients with chronic multiple sclerosis (MS). We also studied demyelinated rat corpus callosum after lysophosphatidyl (LPC) microinjection.


RESULTS
In AUE and NAN NF positive fibers decreased together with total fiber density, whereas TUB increased. In demyelinating lesions TUB was not altered (CIDP) or strongly decreased (MS, LPC); NF were strongly reduced in MS (where axon loss was prominent) and in LPC lesions (despite the lack of fiber degeneration) and for fiber densities<3900/mm2 in CIDP.


CONCLUSIONS
The initial mechanism of a disease, either axonal degeneration or demyelination, could result into a specific pattern of axonal cytoskeleton alterations.
Fressinaud
C
C
Département de Neurologie, UPRES EA 3143, CHU, Angers. Catherine.fressinaud@med.univ-angers.fr
Jean
I
I
Dubas
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D020833:Diffuse Axonal Injury / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D008870:Microtubules / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000473:pathology; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000473:pathology; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D014404:Tubulin