Immunohistochemical study on the distribution of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in the central nervous system of SOD1G93A transgenic mice.
In the present study, we performed immunohistochemical studies to investigate the changes of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (pERK) in the central nervous system of SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice. In symptomatic transgenic mice, pERK-immunoreactive astrocytes were detected in the spinal cord, brainstem, central gray and cerebellar nuclei. In contrast to symptomatic mice, no pERK-immunoreactive astrocytes were observed in any brain region of wtSOD1 and presymptomatic mice, and the number and intensity of stained neurons were not different at the age of 8 weeks and 13 weeks. Interestingly, region-specific alterations in pERK immunoreactivity were observed in the hippocampal region and cerebellum. These results provide the first evidence that pERK-immunoreactive astrocytes were found in the CNS of SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice after clinical symptoms, showing a possible consequence of the pathological process of ALS. This study has also demonstrated that pERK increases in the hippocampus and cerebellum, suggesting a role of pERK in an abnormality of cognitive and/or motor function in ALS, respectively. However, the mechanisms underlying the increased immunoreactivity for pERK and the functional implications require elucidation.
Chung
Yoon Hee
YH
Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 221 Heukseok-Dong, Dongjak-Gu, Seoul 156-756, Korea.
Joo
Kyeung Min
KM
Lim
Heon Chang
HC
Cho
Mi Haeng
MH
Kim
Daejin
D
Lee
Won Bok
WB
Cha
Choong Ik
CI
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010766:Phosphorylation; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics*
C109415:SOD1 G93A protein; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases