Changes of Nogo-A and receptor NgR in the lumbar spinal cord of ALS model mice

Abstract

Detailed assessment of Nogo-A and its receptor NgR in the spinal cord of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) models or patients has not been reported previously, and we examined the expression and distribution patterns of Nogo-A and NgR in an ALS mouse model to determine whether these molecules play a role in this disease. As compared with wild-type (WT) mice, transgenic (Tg) mice showed that the expression levels of Nogo-A transiently increased in motor neurons at an age of 10 weeks old (W), while it progressively decreased from 15 to 18 W. NgR expression in motor neurons of the Tg mice increased at 10 W, then progressively decreased from 15 to 18 W. In contrast, there was no significant change in the dorsal lumbar cord or the cerebellum of Tg mice throughout the progression of ALS. This study suggests that the function of Nogo-A may alter under certain conditions and locations, and thus transient overexpression of Nogo-A and NgR in motor neurons of this ALS mouse model at 10 W may represent a survival reaction of these cells under stressful conditions.

Keywords:

• ALS
• G93A
• NGR
• NOGO-A
• SPINAL CORD