Apoptosis of neurons and oligodendrocytes in the spinal cord of spinal hyperostotic mouse (twy/twy): possible pathomechanism of human cervical compressive myelopathy
Open Access
- 21 September 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in European Spine Journal
- Vol. 21 (3), 490-497
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-011-2025-x
Abstract
Cervical compressive myelopathy is the most serious complication of cervical spondylosis or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and the most frequent cause of spinal cord dysfunction. There is little information on the exact pathophysiological mechanism responsible for the progressive loss of neural tissue in the spinal cord of such patients. In this study, we used the spinal hyperostotic mouse (twy/twy) as a suitable model of human spondylosis, and OPLL to investigate the cellular and molecular changes in the spinal cord. Mutant twy/twy mouse developed ossification of the ligamentum flavum at C2–C3 and exhibited progressive paralysis. The mutant twy/twy mice, aged 16 and 24 weeks, were used in the present study. The cervical spinal cord was analyzed histologically and immunohistochemically. We observed that a significant correlation between the proportion of apoptotic oligodendrocytes in the compressed area of the spinal cord and the magnitude of cord compression. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated overexpression of TNFR1, CD95, and p75NTR in the twy/twy mice, which was localized by the immunofluorescence in the neurons and oligodendrocytes. The expression of such factors seems to play at least some role in the apoptotic process, which probably contributes to axonal degeneration and demyelination in the twy/twy mice spinal cords with severe compression.Keywords
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Its Receptors Contribute to Apoptosis of Oligodendrocytes in the Spinal Cord of Spinal Hyperostotic Mouse (twy/twy) Sustaining Chronic Mechanical CompressionSpine, 2009
- Expression of Apoptosis Signal-Regulating Kinase 1 in Mouse Spinal Cord Under Chronic Mechanical CompressionSpine, 2008
- Adenovirus‐mediated retrograde transfer of neurotrophin‐3 gene enhances survival of anterior horn neurons of twy/twy mice with chronic mechanical compression of the spinal cordJournal of Neuroscience Research, 2008
- Postmortem study of the spinal cord showing snake-eyes appearance due to damage by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and kyphotic deformitySpinal Cord, 2005
- Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Suppresses Delayed Apoptosis of Oligodendrocytes after Spinal Cord Injury in RatsJournal of Neurotrauma, 2002
- Systemic administration of antisense p75NTR oligodeoxynucleotides rescues axotomised spinal motor neuronsJournal of Neuroscience Research, 2001
- Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Neuronal and Glial Apoptosis after Spinal Cord InjuryExperimental Neurology, 2000
- Apoptotic Cells Associated with Wallerian Degeneration After Experimental Spinal Cord Injury: A Possible Mechanism of Oligodendroglial DeathJournal of Neurotrauma, 1999
- Death Receptors: Signaling and ModulationScience, 1998
- Induction and its spread of apoptosis in rat spinal cord after mechanical traumaNeuroscience Letters, 1996