Immunohistochemical study on the distribution of glycogen synthase kinase 3alpha in the central nervous system of SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice.
OBJECTIVE
To identify glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3alpha expression in a mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we investigated the changes of GSK3alpha in the central nervous system of SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice by immunohistochemistry.


METHODS
We used 12 SOD1(G93A) transgenic and ten wild-type (wt) SOD1 transgenic mice bred by 'The Jackson Laboratory' under the strain designations B6SJL-TgN (SOD1(G93A)) 1 Gur/J and B6SJL-TgN (SOD1) 2 Gur/J, respectively. Immunohistochemistry was performed in accordance with the free-floating method described earlier.


RESULTS
In symptomatic transgenic mice, GSK3alpha-immunoreactive astrocytes were detected in the spinal cord, brainstem and cerebellum of symptomatic SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice. In contrast to symptomatic mice, no GSK3alpha-immunoreactive astrocytes were observed in any brain region of wtSOD1 and pre-symptomatic mice, and the number and intensity of stained cells were not different at the age of 8 and 13 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide the first evidence that GSK3alpha-immunoreactive astrocytes were found in the CNS of SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice after clinical symptoms, suggesting a possible role in the pathologic process of ALS. However, the mechanisms underlying the increased immunoreactivity for GSK3alpha 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, Korea.
Joo
Kyeung Min
KM
Kim
Dae Jin
DJ
Kim
Sung Su
SS
Kim
Kyung Yong
KY
Lee
Won Bok
WB
Cha
Choong Ik
CI
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics*; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1
C000606291:Sod1 protein, mouse; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3