Premium
Potential roles of Alzheimer precursor protein A4 and β‐amyloid in survival and function of aged spinal motor neurons after axonal injury
Author(s) -
Xie Yuanyun,
Yao Zhibin,
Chai Hong,
Wong WaiMan,
Wu Wutian
Publication year - 2003
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.10667
Subject(s) - motor function , neuroscience , amyloid precursor protein , medicine , motor neuron , amyloid β , amyloid (mycology) , biology , pathology , alzheimer's disease , spinal cord , physical medicine and rehabilitation , disease
To study the potential role of Alzheimer precursor protein A4 (APP) and β‐amyloid (A/β) on aging motor neuron survival, expression of APP, A/β, and choline acetyltransferase (ChaT) were investigated in aged rats after either distal axotomy or root avulsion injury. Approximately 45% in number of total aged spinal motor neuron were normally APP‐positive. A/β‐positive neurites were observed normally in the spinal ventral horn of aged rats. After distal axotomy, without apparent neurodegeneration such as cell loss and decreased ChaT‐immunoreactivity, increased levels of APP expression were observed in the spinal cords of aged rats post‐injury. In contrast, after avulsion, expression of APP and A/β were downregulated in the spinal ventral horn of aged rats, and marked loss of spinal motor neurons and downregulated ChaT expression were observed. Our data indicate that APP and A/β might play beneficial roles in neuronal survival of aged spinal motor neurons after axonal injury. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.