Characterization of somatosensory neuron involvement in the SOD1 G93A mouse model

SOD1 mice show loss of cutaneous small fibers, as in ALS patients. Our objective is to characterize the involvement of different somatosensory neuron populations and its temporal progression in the SOD1 mice. We aim to further define peripheral sensory involvement, analyzing at the same time points...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2022-05, Vol.12 (1), p.7600
Main Authors: Rubio, Miguel A, Herrando-Grabulosa, Mireia, Gaja-Capdevila, Nuria, Vilches, Jorge J, Navarro, Xavier
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - genetics
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - pathology
Animals
Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide - genetics
Disease Models, Animal
Humans
Mice
Mice, Transgenic
Sensory Receptor Cells
Superoxide Dismutase-1 - genetics
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Summary:SOD1 mice show loss of cutaneous small fibers, as in ALS patients. Our objective is to characterize the involvement of different somatosensory neuron populations and its temporal progression in the SOD1 mice. We aim to further define peripheral sensory involvement, analyzing at the same time points the neuronal bodies located in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and the distal part of their axons in the skin, in order to shed light in the mechanisms of sensory involvement in ALS. We performed immunohistochemical analysis of peptidergic (CGRP), non-peptidergic (IB4) fibers in epidermis, as well as sympathetic sudomotor fibers (VIP) in the footpads of SOD1 mice and wild type littermates at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. We also immunolabeled and quantified neuronal bodies of IB4, CGRP and parvalbumin (PV) positive sensory neurons in lumbar DRG. We detected a reduction of intraepidermal nerve fiber density in the SOD1 mice of both peptidergic and non-peptidergic axons, compared with the WT, being the non-peptidergic the fewest. Sweat gland innervation was similarly affected in the SOD1 mouse at 12 weeks. Nonetheless, the number of DRG neurons from different sensory populations remained unchanged during all stages. Cutaneous sensory axons are affected in the SOD1 mouse, with non-peptidergic being slightly more vulnerable than peptidergic axons. Loss or lack of growth of the distal portion of sensory axons with preservation of the corresponding neuronal bodies suggest a distal axonopathy.
ISSN:2045-2322