Abstract
Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is known to rescue motor neurones in animal models of injury and neurodegeneration and we have recently described regional changes of CNTF protein levels in spinal cord from patients with sporadic motor neurone disease of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) type. However, information is lacking about the CNTF receptor in this condition. We have therefore studied mRNA levels for the α subunit of the CNTF receptor (CNTFRα) and for CNTF itself in postmortem spinal cord and cerebral cortex in patients with sporadic ALS and matched controls. We report that in the spinal cord of ALS patients there is a marked increase in the hybridisation signal for CNTFRα subunit mRNA overlying motor neurones. In contrast, very little mRNA for CNTFRα subunit was found in the motor cortex and no differences were seen between ALS and controls. We were unable to detect any hybridisation signal for CNTF mRNA. Our findings provide evidence for regional differences in CNTF receptor expression in upper- and lower-motor neurones in ALS.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 109-113 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of the Neurological Sciences |
Volume | 129 |
Issue number | Supplement |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 1995 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- ALS
- CNTF receptors
- Human motor neurone disease
- In situ hybridisation
- Motor cortex
- Spinal cord