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Abnormal synaptic protein expression in two Arabian horses with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy.
Abstract: Numerous swollen neurons and multiple dystrophic axons were observed in the gracillis and cuneatus nuclei of two male Arabian horses, aged six and 12 months of age, with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy. Swollen neurons and dystrophic axons showed synaptophysin, synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa, syntaxin-1 and alpha-synuclein immunoreactivity. Moreover, dystrophic axons were strongly immunopositive against the ubiquitin protein and against the anti-phosphorylated 200 kDa neurofilament protein. Abnormal expression of integral synaptic vesicle, synaptic vesicle-associated presynaptic plasma membrane and cytosolic proteins, which participate in the trafficking, docking and fusion of the synaptic vesicle to the plasma membrane, suggest that severe disruption of axonal transport plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of dystrophic axons in equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM).
Publication Date: 2003-10-11 PubMed ID: 14550734DOI: 10.1016/s1090-0233(02)00302-7Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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This study explores the abnormal expression of synaptic proteins in two Arabian horses diagnosed with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy, a neurological disease. The abnormal protein expression is linked to disruptions in axonal transport suggesting that this could play a crucial role in the disease’s pathogenesis.
Abnormal Synaptophysin, Syntaxin-1, and Alpha-Synuclein Immunoreactivity
In this research, the scientists examined two Arabian horses affected by equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM). Several abnormalities were noted, including:
- Multiple swollen neurons and dystrophic axons were found in specific regions of the horses’ brains. This is a characteristic symptom of degenerative neurological diseases like EDM.
- The swollen neurons and dystrophic axons showed abnormal synaptophysin, syntaxin-1, and alpha-synuclein immunoreactivity. These proteins have various functions in the synapse, including facilitating the release of neurotransmitters. Their abnormal expression could contribute to the disruption of normal neuronal functioning in EDM.
Dystrophic Axons and Ubiquitin Protein
- Dystrophic axons in the horses were found to be strongly immunopositive for the ubiquitin protein and for the anti-phosphorylated 200 kDa neurofilament protein. This suggests that these proteins might be involved in the disease process.
- Ubiquitin is a protein that helps degrade damaged or unnecessary proteins within cells, and its overexpression could be a response to the neuronal damage observed in EDM.
- The 200 kDa neurofilament protein helps maintain the structure of neurons, and its abnormal phosphorylation could interfere with neuronal structure and function.
Disruption of Axonal Transport
The appearance of abnormal proteins suggests a severe disruption of axonal transport, a crucial process in neuronal functioning. This could have significant implications for the understanding of EDM:
- The research suggests that abnormalities in axonal transport might play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of EDM, contributing to neuronal damage.
- This finding could help guide future research and treatment approaches for EDM and potentially other degenerative neurological diseases.
Cite This Article
APA
Sisó S, Ferrer I, Pumarola M.
(2003).
Abnormal synaptic protein expression in two Arabian horses with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy.
Vet J, 166(3), 238-243.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s1090-0233(02)00302-7 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Priocat Laboratory, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal, Bellaterra Campus, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
- Male
- Membrane Proteins / metabolism
- Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis
- Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
- Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / metabolism
- Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / pathology
- Neuroaxonal Dystrophies / veterinary
- Synaptic Vesicles / metabolism
- Synaptic Vesicles / pathology
- Synaptophysin / metabolism
- Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25
- Synucleins
- alpha-Synuclein
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Powers A, Peek SF, Reed S, Donnelly CG, Tinkler S, Gasper D, Woolard KD, Finno CJ. Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/degenerative myeloencephalopathy in Gypsy Vanner horses. J Vet Intern Med 2024 May-Jun;38(3):1792-1798.
- Bitschi ML, Bagó Z, Rosati M, Reese S, Goehring LS, Matiasek K. A Systematic Approach to Dissection of the Equine Brain-Evaluation of a Species-Adapted Protocol for Beginners and Experts. Front Neuroanat 2020;14:614929.
- Hales EN, Esparza C, Peng S, Dahlgren AR, Peterson JM, Miller AD, Finno CJ. Genome-Wide Association Study and Subsequent Exclusion of ATCAY as a Candidate Gene Involved in Equine Neuroaxonal Dystrophy Using Two Animal Models. Genes (Basel) 2020 Jan 10;11(1).
- Burns EN, Finno CJ. Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy: prevalence, impact, and management. Vet Med (Auckl) 2018;9:63-67.
- Meneses CS, Müller HY, Herzberg DE, Uberti B, Bustamante HA, Werner MP. Immunofluorescence characterization of spinal cord dorsal horn microglia and astrocytes in horses. PeerJ 2017;5:e3965.
- Finno CJ, Miller AD, Sisó S, Divers T, Gianino G, Barro MV, Valberg SJ. Concurrent Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy and Equine Motor Neuron Disease in Three Young Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jul;30(4):1344-50.
- Finno CJ, Valberg SJ, Shivers J, D'Almeida E, Armién AG. Evidence of the Primary Afferent Tracts Undergoing Neurodegeneration in Horses With Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy Based on Calretinin Immunohistochemical Localization. Vet Pathol 2016 Jan;53(1):77-86.
- Finno CJ, Aleman M, Higgins RJ, Madigan JE, Bannasch DL. Risk of false positive genetic associations in complex traits with underlying population structure: a case study. Vet J 2014 Dec;202(3):543-9.
- Finno CJ, Famula T, Aleman M, Higgins RJ, Madigan JE, Bannasch DL. Pedigree analysis and exclusion of alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (TTPA) as a candidate gene for neuroaxonal dystrophy in the American Quarter Horse. J Vet Intern Med 2013 Jan-Feb;27(1):177-85.
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