谷氨酸转运抑制剂诱导脊髓运动神经元选择性损伤

Selective injury of spinal cord motor neurons induced by glutamate transport inhibitor

目的:观察谷氨酸转运体抑制剂苏羟天冬氨酸(THA)对器官型培养的脊髓片的影响。方法:取出生后8d乳鼠的腰段脊髓组织切片做脊髓器官型培养,在培养液中加入THA,免疫组化染色进行神经元计数,测定培养液中谷氨酸的含量,电镜观察超微结构改变。结果:THA组随培养时间的延长谷氨酸含量增高,α运动神经元数目减少,超微结构损伤明显,而脊髓背角的中间神经元的数目无显著变化,超微结构损伤相对较轻。结论:谷氨酸转运异常可以诱导选择性运动神经元损伤。

Objective:To investigate the effect of threo-hydroxyaspartate (THA), a inhibitor of glutamate transport carrier, on motor neuron injury in organotypic cultured spinal cord slices. Methods: Organotypic spinal cord cultures were prepared using lumbar spinal cord from 8-day-old rats. THA was continuously added into the culture medium. α-motor neurons in ventral horn and interneurons in dorsal horn were evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining. Glutamate (Glu) level in culture medium was also measured. Ultrastructural alternations of the neuropathology were examined by electron transmission microscopy. Results: THA produced a slow loss of α-motor neurons with obvious ultrastructure damage, while the dorsal interneurons were slightly damaged.Conclusion:Glutamate transport inhibitor can cause selective α-motor neuron death.