title: Cobalamin deficiency-induced down-regulation of p75-immunoreactive cell levels in rat central nervous system.
abstract: We investigated immunoreactivity for p75 neurotrophin receptor (NTR) in the spinal cord white matter and septum of rats made cobalamin-deficient (Cbl-D) by means of total gastrectomy or a Cbl-D diet. Cbl deficiency down-regulates p75NTR-immunoreactive cell levels in spinal cord white matter and septum with different time courses. On the whole, the spinal cord white matter seems to be more affected in terms of p75NTR-immunoreactive cells, most of which are astrocytes. The p75NTR-immunoreactive cell levels in the spinal cord white matter and septum normalized in rats treated with Cbl (scheme b) and killed 4 months after total gastrectomy. However, Western blot analysis of p75NTR in the spinal cords of Cbl-D rats shows increased p75NTR protein levels, which are resistant to Cbl replacement. These findings demonstrate that a neurotrophic vitamin (Cbl) positively regulates the levels of a neurotrophic receptor (p75NTR) (at least in terms of immunohistochemistry) in rat central nervous system, although the underlying mechanism(s) are still unknown.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Pathology, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mutti
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Veber
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stampachiacchiere
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stampachiacchere
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Triaca
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gammella
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tacchini
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aloe
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scalabrino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000378:metabolism; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D006710:Homocysteine; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D014805:Vitamin B 12