Plastic changes in the spinal cord in motor neuron disease.
In the present paper, we analyze the cell number within lamina X at the end stage of disease in a G93A mouse model of ALS; the effects induced by lithium; the stem-cell like phenotype of lamina X cells during ALS; the differentiation of these cells towards either a glial or neuronal phenotype. In summary we found that G93A mouse model of ALS produces an increase in lamina X cells which is further augmented by lithium administration. In the absence of lithium these nestin positive stem-like cells preferentially differentiate into glia (GFAP positive), while in the presence of lithium these cells differentiate towards a neuron-like phenotype ( β III-tubulin, NeuN, and calbindin-D28K positive). These effects of lithium are observed concomitantly with attenuation in disease progression and are reminiscent of neurogenetic effects induced by lithium in the subependymal ventricular zone of the hippocampus.
Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy ; IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy.
Francesco
F
Fornai
Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Michela
M
Ferrucci
Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Paola
P
Lenzi
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Alessandra
A
Falleni
IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy.
Francesca
F
Biagioni
Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Marina
M
Flaibani
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Gabriele
G
Siciliano
Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Francesco
F
Giannessi
Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Antonio
A
Paparelli
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D064026:Calbindins / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D034882:Lamins / Q000378:metabolism; D008094:Lithium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D064231:Nestin / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
D064026:Calbindins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D034882:Lamins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; C492380:NeuN protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; C462941:beta3 tubulin, mouse; D008094:Lithium