Abstract
Although amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has long been considered as a lower motor neuron (MN) disease, degeneration of upper MNs arising from a combination of mechanisms including insufficient growth factor signaling and enhanced extracellular glutamate levels is now well documented. The observation that these mechanisms are altered in presymptomatic superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mice, an ALS mouse model, suggests that defective primary motor cortex (M1) synaptic activity might precede the onset of motor disturbances. To examine this point, we assessed the composition of AMPAR and NMDAR subunits and of the alphaCa 2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase autophosphorylation at threonine-286 in the triton insoluble fraction from the M1 in postnatal P80-P85 SOD1 G93A and wild-type mice. We show that presymptomatic SOD1 G93A exhibit a selective decrease of NR2A subunit expression and of the alphaCa 2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase autophosphorylation at threonine-286 in the triton insoluble fraction of upper MNs synapses. These molecular alterations are associated with synaptic plasticity defects, and a reduction in upper MN dendritic outgrowth revealing that abnormal neuronal connectivity in the M1 region precedes the onset of motor symptoms. We suggest that the progressive disruption of M1 corticocortical connections resulting from the SOD1 G93A mutation might extend to adjacent regions and promote development of cognitive/dementia alterations frequently associated with ALS.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 796-805 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Cerebral Cortex |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2011 |
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Keywords
- AMPA and NMDA receptors
- cortical synaptic plasticity
- dendrite outgrowth
- familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS)
- SOD1G93A mutation
- upper motor neurons
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Cite this
Postsynaptic alteration of NR2A subunit and defective autophosphorylation of alpha CaMKII at Threonine-286 contribute to abnormal plasticity and morphology of upper motor neurons in presymptomatic SOD1 G93A mice, a murine model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. / Spalloni, A.; Origlia, N.; Sgobio, C.; Trabalza, A.; Nutini, M.; Berretta, N.; Bernardi, G.; Domenici, L.; Ammassari-Teule, M.; Longone, P.
In: Cerebral Cortex, Vol. 21, No. 4, 04.2011, p. 796-805.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Postsynaptic alteration of NR2A subunit and defective autophosphorylation of alpha CaMKII at Threonine-286 contribute to abnormal plasticity and morphology of upper motor neurons in presymptomatic SOD1 G93A mice, a murine model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
AU - Spalloni, A.
AU - Origlia, N.
AU - Sgobio, C.
AU - Trabalza, A.
AU - Nutini, M.
AU - Berretta, N.
AU - Bernardi, G.
AU - Domenici, L.
AU - Ammassari-Teule, M.
AU - Longone, P.
PY - 2011/4
Y1 - 2011/4
N2 - Although amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has long been considered as a lower motor neuron (MN) disease, degeneration of upper MNs arising from a combination of mechanisms including insufficient growth factor signaling and enhanced extracellular glutamate levels is now well documented. The observation that these mechanisms are altered in presymptomatic superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mice, an ALS mouse model, suggests that defective primary motor cortex (M1) synaptic activity might precede the onset of motor disturbances. To examine this point, we assessed the composition of AMPAR and NMDAR subunits and of the alphaCa 2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase autophosphorylation at threonine-286 in the triton insoluble fraction from the M1 in postnatal P80-P85 SOD1 G93A and wild-type mice. We show that presymptomatic SOD1 G93A exhibit a selective decrease of NR2A subunit expression and of the alphaCa 2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase autophosphorylation at threonine-286 in the triton insoluble fraction of upper MNs synapses. These molecular alterations are associated with synaptic plasticity defects, and a reduction in upper MN dendritic outgrowth revealing that abnormal neuronal connectivity in the M1 region precedes the onset of motor symptoms. We suggest that the progressive disruption of M1 corticocortical connections resulting from the SOD1 G93A mutation might extend to adjacent regions and promote development of cognitive/dementia alterations frequently associated with ALS.
AB - Although amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has long been considered as a lower motor neuron (MN) disease, degeneration of upper MNs arising from a combination of mechanisms including insufficient growth factor signaling and enhanced extracellular glutamate levels is now well documented. The observation that these mechanisms are altered in presymptomatic superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mice, an ALS mouse model, suggests that defective primary motor cortex (M1) synaptic activity might precede the onset of motor disturbances. To examine this point, we assessed the composition of AMPAR and NMDAR subunits and of the alphaCa 2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase autophosphorylation at threonine-286 in the triton insoluble fraction from the M1 in postnatal P80-P85 SOD1 G93A and wild-type mice. We show that presymptomatic SOD1 G93A exhibit a selective decrease of NR2A subunit expression and of the alphaCa 2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase autophosphorylation at threonine-286 in the triton insoluble fraction of upper MNs synapses. These molecular alterations are associated with synaptic plasticity defects, and a reduction in upper MN dendritic outgrowth revealing that abnormal neuronal connectivity in the M1 region precedes the onset of motor symptoms. We suggest that the progressive disruption of M1 corticocortical connections resulting from the SOD1 G93A mutation might extend to adjacent regions and promote development of cognitive/dementia alterations frequently associated with ALS.
KW - AMPA and NMDA receptors
KW - cortical synaptic plasticity
KW - dendrite outgrowth
KW - familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS)
KW - SOD1G93A mutation
KW - upper motor neurons
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79952823474&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79952823474&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/cercor/bhq152
DO - 10.1093/cercor/bhq152
M3 - Article
C2 - 20732897
AN - SCOPUS:79952823474
VL - 21
SP - 796
EP - 805
JO - Cerebral Cortex
JF - Cerebral Cortex
SN - 1047-3211
IS - 4
ER -