title: The primary locus of motor neuron death in an ALS-PDC mouse model.
abstract: A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-parkinsonism-dementia complex based on the consumption of cycad seed flour was used to determine whether the observed pathology of motor neuron loss begins in the distal axons or the spinal cord. Assessments of neuromuscular junction integrity and motor neurons were performed at multiple time points. Mice fed cycad pellets performed worse on the wire hang than controls. Microglial activation in cycad-fed mice was observed with motor neuron degeneration at 12 weeks, but reactive astrocyte proliferation was not observed. After 33 weeks of cycad feeding, motor neuron loss had stabilized, with no evidence of neuromuscular junction endplate denervation. These data suggest that neuronal pathology begins at the soma and proceeds distally in a 'dying forward' pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology; D016923:Cell Death; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003704:Dementia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000473:pathology; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors