Fate of rubrospinal neurons after unilateral section of the cervical spinal cord in adult macaque monkeys: effects of an antibody treatment neutralizing Nogo-A.
The present study describes in primates the effects of a spinal cord injury on the number and size of the neurons in the magnocellular part of the red nucleus (RNm), the origin of the rubrospinal tract, and evaluates whether a neutralization of Nogo-A reduces the lesioned-induced degenerative processes observed in RNm. Two groups of monkeys were subjected to unilateral section of the spinal cord affecting the rubrospinal tract; one group was subsequently treated with an antibody neutralizing Nogo-A; the second group received a control antibody. Intact animals were also included in the study. Counting neurons stained with a monoclonal antibody recognizing non-phosphorylated epitopes on neurofilaments (SMI-32) indicated that their number in the contralesional RNm was consistently inferior to that in the ipsilesional RNm, in a proportion amounting up to 35%. The lesion also induced shrinkage of the soma of the neurons detected in the contralesional RNm. Infusing an anti-Nogo-A antibody at the site of the lesion did not increase the proportion of SMI-32 positive rubrospinal neurons in the contralesional RNm nor prevent shrinkage.
Unit of Physiology and Program in Neurosciences, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Sciences, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 5, Fribourg, Switzerland.
P
P
Wannier-Morino
E
E
Schmidlin
P
P
Freund
A
A
Belhaj-Saif
J
J
Bloch
A
A
Mir
M E
ME
Schwab
E M
EM
Rouiller
T
T
Wannier
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019771:Axotomy; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008251:Macaca; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D000070798:Nogo Proteins; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000473:pathology*; D012012:Red Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D000070798:Nogo Proteins; C000603199:RTN4 protein, human