Abstract
To clarify the roles of neurotrophins in the human spinal motoneurons, with special reference to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we studied the immunohistochemical localizations of neurotrophins and their receptors in spinal cords of patients with ALS and compared them with controls. In the controls, the majority of motoneurons showed BDNF-, NT3-, trkB- and trkC-like immunoreactivity (-LI) suggesting that the motoneurons receive an autocrine regulation by both BDNF and NT3. In ALS patients, about three-quarters of the motoneurons had degenerated and the remaining motoneurons showed significantly decreased BDNF-LI, increased NGF- and trkA-LI. These findings indicated neurotrophin-switching in the remaining spinal motoneurons of ALS patients from BDNF and NT3 responsive to NGF responsive.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / metabolism*
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / pathology
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / analysis
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Humans
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Middle Aged
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Motor Neurons / cytology
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Motor Neurons / metabolism*
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Motor Neurons / pathology
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Nerve Growth Factors / analysis
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Nerve Growth Factors / biosynthesis*
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Neurotrophin 3
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / analysis*
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / biosynthesis
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Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor
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Receptor, trkC
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Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / analysis*
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Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / biosynthesis*
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Reference Values
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Spinal Cord / cytology
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Spinal Cord / metabolism*
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Spinal Cord / pathology
Substances
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
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Nerve Growth Factors
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Neurotrophin 3
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Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor
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Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Receptor, trkC