Oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA in spinal motoneurons of transgenic ALS mice

Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2001 Apr 18;89(1-2):147-52. doi: 10.1016/s0169-328x(01)00029-8.

Abstract

In order to clarify a possible role of oxidative stress in motoneuron death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we examined a presence of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), one of the best markers of the oxidative DNA damage, in the spinal cord of transgenic mice harboring a mutant Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene. Immunocytochemistry showed a progressive accumulation of 8-OHdG in ventral horn neurons from early and presymptomatic stage (25 weeks) before significant loss of ventral horn neurons, while no detectable 8-OHdG in non-transgenic control mice. At the late and symptomatic stage (35 weeks), the 8-OHdG-like immunoreactivity spread over the posterior horn of spinal cord in Tg mice. The immunoreactivity for 8-OHdG was not localized in the nucleus but in cytoplasm with small granular pattern. These data suggest that an oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA is happening in spinal motoneurons of the Tg mice from very early stage of the disease, and may be involved in the mechanism of the subsequent motoneuron death in this model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / metabolism*
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / pathology
  • Animals
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Motor Neurons / metabolism*
  • Motor Neurons / pathology
  • Oxidative Stress / physiology*
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism*
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Superoxide Dismutase / genetics
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • Superoxide Dismutase