Strain-specific susceptibility for neurodegeneration in a rat model of autoimmune optic neuritis

J Neuroimmunol. 2008 Jan;193(1-2):77-86. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2007.10.021. Epub 2007 Nov 26.

Abstract

Heterogeneity in clinical disease course and histopathology complicates the treatment of multiple sclerosis. We detected important differences in neurodegeneration in various subtypes of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-induced optic neuritis. Dark Agouti (DA) rats showed a significantly higher survival of retinal ganglion cells in comparison to Brown Norway rats. After surgical transection of the optic nerve neuronal loss was similar in both rat strains. We identified an increased expression of interleukin 1beta and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in DA rats as the possible mechanism of the observed endogenous neuroprotection in MOG-induced optic neuritis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation
  • Autoimmune Diseases / etiology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Female
  • Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-1beta / biosynthesis
  • Multiple Sclerosis / etiology
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / immunology
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / etiology*
  • Optic Neuritis / etiology*
  • Optic Neuritis / pathology
  • Rats
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / pathology
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Mog protein, rat
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein
  • Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein