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Expression of glutamate receptor subtypes in the spinal cord of control and mnd mice, a model of motor neuron disorder
Author(s) -
Mennini Tiziana,
Bigini Paolo,
Ravizza Teresa,
Vezzani Annamaria,
Calvaresi Novella,
Tortarolo Massimo,
Bendotti Caterina
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.10420
Subject(s) - spinal cord , ionotropic glutamate receptor , motor neuron , lumbar spinal cord , glutamate receptor , neuroscience , choline acetyltransferase , grey matter , ionotropic effect , glutamatergic , nmda receptor , biology , medicine , endocrinology , pathology , receptor , central nervous system , white matter , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging
We studied the expression and distribution of glutamate receptor subtypes in the spinal cord of mnd mice, a model of motor neuron disorders and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, and control mice using immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. The constitutive subunit of the NMDA ionotropic glutamate receptor, NMDAR1, was expressed in all neurons of the grey matter and was not modified in the spinal cord of mnd mice in either its normal or phosphorylated form. The immunoreactivity of GluR2, but not its mRNA, was increased mainly in the substantia gelatinosa both in presymptomatic and in 8‐month‐old symptomatic mice, suggesting compensatory changes aimed at reducing the Ca 2+ permeability of the receptor channel. In spinal cord of mnd mice, mRNA, and protein levels of GluR3 were low only at the symptomatic stage, possibly as a consequence of motor neuron dysfunction. This was not due to motoneuron degeneration, because the number of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunopositive lumbar motor neurons and the ChAT activity in the spinal cord and hind leg muscles of symptomatic mnd mice were no different from control mice. GluR4 mRNA was increased throughout the grey matter, presumably in relation to the marked microglia activation reported in the grey matter of the lumbar spinal cord in mnd mice. These changes in ionotropic glutamate receptors may alter glutamatergic neurotransmission and play some role in the pathology of mnd mice. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.