Neuroplasticity and Repair in Rodent Neurotoxic Models of Spinal Motoneuron Disease
Retrogradely transported toxins are widely used to set up protocols for selective lesioning of the nervous system. These methods could be collectively named “molecular neurosurgery” because they are able to destroy specific types of neurons by using targeted neurotoxins. Lectins such as ricin, volke...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Neural Plasticity |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/2769735 |
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| author | Rosario Gulino |
| author_facet | Rosario Gulino |
| author_sort | Rosario Gulino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Retrogradely transported toxins are widely used to set up protocols for selective lesioning of the nervous system. These methods could be collectively named “molecular neurosurgery” because they are able to destroy specific types of neurons by using targeted neurotoxins. Lectins such as ricin, volkensin, or modeccin and neuropeptide- or antibody-conjugated saporin represent the most effective toxins used for neuronal lesioning. Some of these specific neurotoxins could be used to induce selective depletion of spinal motoneurons. In this review, we extensively describe two rodent models of motoneuron degeneration induced by volkensin or cholera toxin-B saporin. In particular, we focus on the possible experimental use of these models to mimic neurodegenerative diseases, to dissect the molecular mechanisms of neuroplastic changes underlying the spontaneous functional recovery after motoneuron death, and finally to test different strategies of neural repair. The potential clinical applications of these approaches are also discussed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-64da947c793244babb8aa3f62425ba81 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2090-5904 1687-5443 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Neural Plasticity |
| spelling | doaj-art-64da947c793244babb8aa3f62425ba812025-08-20T02:06:36ZengWileyNeural Plasticity2090-59041687-54432016-01-01201610.1155/2016/27697352769735Neuroplasticity and Repair in Rodent Neurotoxic Models of Spinal Motoneuron DiseaseRosario Gulino0Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Physiology Section, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, ItalyRetrogradely transported toxins are widely used to set up protocols for selective lesioning of the nervous system. These methods could be collectively named “molecular neurosurgery” because they are able to destroy specific types of neurons by using targeted neurotoxins. Lectins such as ricin, volkensin, or modeccin and neuropeptide- or antibody-conjugated saporin represent the most effective toxins used for neuronal lesioning. Some of these specific neurotoxins could be used to induce selective depletion of spinal motoneurons. In this review, we extensively describe two rodent models of motoneuron degeneration induced by volkensin or cholera toxin-B saporin. In particular, we focus on the possible experimental use of these models to mimic neurodegenerative diseases, to dissect the molecular mechanisms of neuroplastic changes underlying the spontaneous functional recovery after motoneuron death, and finally to test different strategies of neural repair. The potential clinical applications of these approaches are also discussed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/2769735 |
| spellingShingle | Rosario Gulino Neuroplasticity and Repair in Rodent Neurotoxic Models of Spinal Motoneuron Disease Neural Plasticity |
| title | Neuroplasticity and Repair in Rodent Neurotoxic Models of Spinal Motoneuron Disease |
| title_full | Neuroplasticity and Repair in Rodent Neurotoxic Models of Spinal Motoneuron Disease |
| title_fullStr | Neuroplasticity and Repair in Rodent Neurotoxic Models of Spinal Motoneuron Disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neuroplasticity and Repair in Rodent Neurotoxic Models of Spinal Motoneuron Disease |
| title_short | Neuroplasticity and Repair in Rodent Neurotoxic Models of Spinal Motoneuron Disease |
| title_sort | neuroplasticity and repair in rodent neurotoxic models of spinal motoneuron disease |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/2769735 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rosariogulino neuroplasticityandrepairinrodentneurotoxicmodelsofspinalmotoneurondisease |