Open AccessINaP selective inhibition reverts precocious inter- and motorneurons hyperexcitability in the Sod1-G93R zebrafish ALS model
Author(s) -
Lorena Benedetti,
Anna Ghilardi,
Elsa Rottoli,
Marcella De Maglie,
Laura Prosperi,
Carla Perego,
Mirko Baruscotti,
Annalisa Bucchi,
Luca Del Giacco,
Maura Francolini
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/srep24515
Subject(s) - riluzole , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , sod1 , neuroscience , zebrafish , motor neuron , phenotype , biology , nap , interneuron , medicine , spinal cord , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , disease , genetics , gene
The pathogenic role of SOD1 mutations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was investigated using a zebrafish disease model stably expressing the ALS-linked G93R mutation. In addition to the main pathological features of ALS shown by adult fish, we found remarkably precocious alterations in the development of motor nerve circuitry and embryo behavior, and suggest that these alterations are prompted by interneuron and motor neuron hyperexcitability triggered by anomalies in the persistent pacemaker sodium current I NaP . The riluzole-induced modulation of I NaP reduced spinal neuron excitability, reverted the behavioral phenotypes and improved the deficits in motor nerve circuitry development, thus shedding new light on the use of riluzole in the management of ALS. Our findings provide a valid phenotype-based tool for unbiased in vivo drug screening that can be used to develop new therapies.