First Author | D'Hooge R | Year | 1999 |
Journal | Neurosci Lett | Volume | 273 |
Issue | 2 | Pages | 93-6 |
PubMed ID | 10505624 | Mgi Jnum | J:59770 |
Mgi Id | MGI:1352140 | Doi | 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00647-3 |
Citation | D'Hooge R, et al. (1999) Neuromotor alterations and cerebellar deficits in aged arylsulfatase A-deficient transgenic mice. Neurosci Lett 273(2):93-6 |
abstractText | Arylsulfatase A (ASA)-deficient (-/-) mice and ASA(+/+) controls were constructed as a transgenic model for the lysosomal storage disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). One-year-old ASA(-/-) mice showed impaired rotarod performance and altered walking pattern characterized by a shorter pace, later evolving into more severe ataxia with tremor in 2-year-old mice. Examination of cerebellar histology showed that 2-year-old ASA(-/-) mice have lost most of the calbindin immunoreactivity from their Purkinje cell dendrites and show simplified dendritic architecture. Additionally, ASA-deficient mice lost a substantial proportion of their Purkinje cells. Recordings of unitary potentials and stimulation of climbing fibers on cerebellar slices from 2-year-old mice indicated that, although the main cerebellar synapses seem to be present and functioning physiologically, the climbing fibers of ASA-deficient mice may have enhanced effects on Purkinje cell activity. It is concluded that ambulatory dysfunctions in ASA(-/-) mice might be explained by an imbalance in the consequences of climbing fiber signals upon Purkinje cell activity due to selective neurodegeneration within the cerebellum. |