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Increased persistent Na + current and its effect on excitability in motoneurones cultured from mutant SOD1 mice
Author(s) -
Kuo J. J.,
Siddique T.,
Fu R.,
Heckman C. J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2004.074138
Subject(s) - sod1 , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , riluzole , chemistry , neuroscience , mutation , genetically modified mouse , transgene , biology , medicine , biochemistry , disease , gene
Mutations in the enzyme superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) initiate a progressive motoneurone degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Transgenic mice overexpressing this mutation develop a similar progressive motoneurone degeneration. In spinal motoneurones cultured from presymptomatic mice expressing the glycine to alanine mutation at base pair 93 (G93A) SOD1 mutation, a marked increase in the persistent component of the Na + current was observed, without changes in passive properties. This increase only enhanced neuronal excitability in high input conductance cells, as low input conductance cells exhibited a compensatory outward shift in the current remaining after Na + blockade. High input conductance motoneurones tend to be large, so these results may explain the tendency of large motoneurones to degenerate first in ALS. Riluzole, at the therapeutic concentration used to treat ALS, decreased neuronal excitability and persistent Na + current in G93A motoneurones to levels observed in the control motoneurones. Aberrations in the intrinsic electrical properties may be among the first symptoms to emerge in SOD1‐linked ALS.