Open AccessSynaptic input changes to spinal cord motoneurons correlate with motor control impairments in a type 1 diabetes mellitus model
Author(s) -
Benitez Suzana Ulian,
Carneiro Everardo Magalhães,
Oliveira Alexandre Leite Rodrigues
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 2162-3279
DOI - 10.1002/brb3.372
Subject(s) - spinal cord , synaptophysin , medicine , lumbar , lumbar spinal cord , diabetes mellitus , central nervous system , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , nervous system , immunohistochemistry , motor neuron , neuroscience , pathology , disease , endocrinology , anatomy , biology , psychiatry
Hyperglycemia is the main cause of diabetic complications, contributing to a widespread degeneration of the nervous system. Nevertheless, the main focus has been the sensory neurons because of neuropathic pain, while the impairments associated with the spinal cord and motor deficits, mostly of those initiated at early stages of the disease, have been poorly investigated. In this way, the present study used the nonobese diabetic mouse model to evaluate the microenvironment around motoneurons at ventral horn of the spinal cord, following prolonged hyperglycemia. Methods Adult female mice were divided into two groups: spontaneously diabetic ( n = 33) and nondiabetic ( n = 26). Mice were considered hyperglycemic when blood glucose surpassed 400 mg/ dL . Following 2 weeks from that stage, part of the animals was euthanized and the lumbar intumescences were obtained and processed for immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. For immunohistochemistry, the antibodies used for integrated density of pixels quantification were anti‐synaptophysin, anti‐ GFAP , and anti‐Iba1. The functional analysis was monitored with the walking track test (CatWalk system) during 4 weeks. Results The results revealed significant motor impairment in diabetic animals in comparison to the control group. Such loss of motor control correlated with a significant reduction in presynaptic terminals apposed to the motoneurons. Nevertheless, there were no significant changes in glial reaction in the spinal cord. Conclusion Overall, the results herein revealed central nervous system changes at early stages of the disease that may in turn contribute to the motor deficit. Such changes open a new window of investigation in early stages of diabetes to better comprehend motor impairment as a long‐term complication of the disease.