title: Nogo-A is associated with secondary degeneration of substantia nigra in hypertensive rats with focal cortical infarction.
abstract: We investigated the association of Nogo-A protein, a myelin-associated inhibitor of axon regeneration, with secondary damage of the ipsilateral substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO) in adult stroke-prone, renovascular hypertensive rats. Intracerebroventricular infusion of NEP1-40, a Nogo-66 receptor antagonist peptide, or vehicle was administered starting 24h after dMCAO and continued for 1, 2, or 4 weeks. The expression of Nogo-A in the ipsilateral SNr was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Neuron death and apoptosis were evaluated using Nissl and terminal uridine nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Glial activation was monitored by immunoreactivity of glial fibrillary acidic protein and the oligodendrocyte marker RIP. Axonal damage and regeneration were determined by Bielschowsky's silver staining and immunoreactivity of growth associated protein 43 and microtubule associated protein 2. We found progressive damage in the center of the ipsilateral SNr through 4 weeks after dMCAO. The neuronal loss was topographically related to axonal degeneration that occurred indirectly from the infarcted cortex. Nogo-A protein in oligodendrocytes was persistently increased in the damaged SNr. Administration of NEP1-40 inhibited Nogo-A expression, the loss of neurons, apoptosis, and proliferation of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. It also boosted the regenerative response of injured axons and encouraged compensatory neurite growth in the ipsilateral SNr. Our data suggest that secondary damage in the ipsilateral SNr may be due to trans-synaptic axonal degeneration that followed the cortical infarct. Further, we showed that Nogo-A is involved in axonal degeneration, and NEP1-40 reduces secondary nigral damage after focal cortical ischemia.
authors: Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Shenzhen Bao'an Hospital of Nanfang Medical College, No. 118 Longjing Road 2, Shenzhen 518101, China.
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Wang
authors: Shihui
authors: S
authors: Xing
authors: Meixia
authors: M
authors: He
authors: Qinghua
authors: Q
authors: Hou
authors: Shangjie
authors: S
authors: Chen
authors: Xiaohui
authors: X
authors: Zou
authors: Zhong
authors: Z
authors: Pei
authors: Jinsheng
authors: J
authors: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006978:Hypertension, Renovascular / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000070798:Nogo Proteins; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D000070798:Nogo Proteins; C000603197:Rtn4 protein, rat