Gonadotropin-releasing hormone reduces the severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a model of multiple sclerosis.
It has been reported that the spinal cord possesses Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor and that GnRH has neurotrophic properties. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) causes neurodegeneration in spinal cord. Thus, the present study was designed to determine whether administration of GnRH reduces the severity of EAE. The clinical signs of locomotion, axonal morphometry and neurofilaments (NFs) expression were evaluated. Clinical signs remained significantly lower in EAE rats with GnRH administration compared to animals without treatment. Morphometric analysis, there were more axons of larger areas in the spinal cord of EAE+GnRH group compared to EAE animals. Western blot analysis demonstrated that GnRH administration significantly increased the expression of NFs of 68, 160 and 200kDa in the spinal cord of EAE animals. Our results indicate that GnRH administration reduces the severity of EAE in the rat.
Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Av. Universidad 940, C.P. 20131 Aguascalientes, México. jlquinta@correo.uaa.mx
J Luis
JL
Quintanar
Eva
E
Salinas
Andrés
A
Quintanar-Stephano
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology
D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone