Quantification of motor neuron loss and muscular atrophy in ricin-induced focal nerve injury.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Intrasciatic nerve injection of the Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA or ricin) causes degeneration of motor neurons (MNs) with functional deficits, such as those that occur in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The objective of this study was to develop a new comprehensive platform for quantitative evaluation of MN loss, muscular atrophy and behavioral deficits using different ricin injection regimens.

New method

Fluorogold (FG)-guided stereological quantification of MNs, in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of muscular atrophy, and CatWalk behavioral testing were used to evaluate the outcome of rats treated with different ricin regimens (RCA60 0.5 μg, RCA60 3 μg, and RCA120 6 μg) as animal models of MN degeneration.

Results

FG-guided stereological co

SUBMITTER: Liang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6251705 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature