title: Progesterone prevents mitochondrial dysfunction in the spinal cord of wobbler mice.
abstract: In the Wobbler mouse, a mutation of the Vps54 protein increases oxidative stress in spinal motoneurons, associated to toxic levels of nitric oxide and hyperactivity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Progesterone neuroprotection has been reported for several CNS diseases, including the Wobbler mouse neurodegeneration. In the present study, we analyzed progesterone effects on mitochondrial-associated parameters of symptomatic Wobbler mice. The activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I, II-III and IV and protein levels of mitochondrial and cytosolic NOS were determined in cervical and lumbar cords from control, Wobbler and Wobbler mice receiving a progesterone implant for 18 days. We found a significant reduction of complex I and II-III activities in mitochondria and increased protein levels of mitochondrial, but not cytosolic nNOS, in the cervical cord of Wobbler mice. Progesterone treatment prevented the reduction of complex I in the cervical region and the increased level of mitochondrial nNOS. Wobbler motoneurons also showed accumulation of amyloid precursor protein immunoreactivity and decreased activity and immunostaining of MnSOD. Progesterone treatment avoided these abnormalities. Therefore, administration of progesterone to clinically afflicted Wobblers (i) prevented the abnormal increase of mitochondrial nNOS and normalized respiratory complex I; (ii) decreased amyloid precursor protein accumulation, a sign of axonal degeneration, and (iii) increased superoxide dismutation. Thus, progesterone neuroprotection decreases mitochondriopathy of Wobbler mouse cervical spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroendocrine Biochemistry, Instituto de Biologia y Medicina Experimental-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Maria Claudia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gonzalez Deniselle
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Carreras
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garay
authors.forename: Gisella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gargiulo-Monachelli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Juan Jose
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Poderoso
authors.forename: Alejandro F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: De Nicola
mesh_terms: D016115:Albinism, Oculocutaneous / Q000235:genetics; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; C486750:Vps54 protein, mouse; C070574:nos protein, Drosophila; D011374:Progesterone; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase