Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0036572 (seizures)
 80,221 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The rumpshaker mutation of the proteolipid protein (Plp) gene causes dysmyelination in man and mouse. We show that the phenotype in the mouse depends critically on the genetic background in which the mutation is expressed. On the C3H background there is normal longevity whereas changing to a C57BL/6 strain results in seizures and death at around postnatal day 30. The more severe phenotype is associated with less myelin and reduced levels of major myelin proteins. There are also more apoptotic cells, including oligodendrocytes, increased numbers of proliferating cells, increased numbers of NG2+ oligodendrocyte progenitors and increased microglia compared to the milder phenotype. The number of mature oligodendrocytes is similar to wild-type in both strains of mutant, however, suggesting that increased oligodendrocyte death is matched by increased generation from progenitors. The dichotomy of phenotype probably reflects the influence of modifying loci. The localization of these putative modifying genes and their mode of action remain to be determined.
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PMID:Genetic background determines phenotypic severity of the Plp rumpshaker mutation. 1264 75

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) deficiency, a rare genetic defect of GABA degradation recently modelled in mice (SSADH(-/-) mice), manifests early absence seizures that evolve into generalized convulsive seizures and lethal status epilepticus in gene-ablated mice. Disrupted GABA homeostasis, in conjunction with the epileptic phenotype and increased gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), suggested that expression profiling with the U74Av2 Affymetrix system would reveal dysregulation of receptor genes associated with GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission. Unexpectedly, we found significant downregulation for genes associated with myelin biogenesis and compaction, predominantly in hippocampus and cortex. These results were confirmed by: (1) myelin basic protein (MBP) immunohistochemistry; (2) western blotting of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and MBP; (3) qRT-PCR analyses of myelin-associated oligodendrocytic basic protein (MOBP), MAG, MBP and proteolipid protein (PLP) in hippocampus, cortex and spinal cord; (4) quantitation of ethanolamine and choline plasmalogens, all core myelin components; (5) evaluation of myelin content in brain sections employing toluidine blue staining; and (6) ultrastructural evaluation of myelin sheath thickness via electron microscopy. We speculate that increased GABA/GHB, acting through GABAergic systems, results in decreased levels of the neurosteroids progesterone and allopregnanolone [Gupta et al (2003) Ann Neurol 54(Supplement 6): S81-S90] and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, with resulting myelin protein abnormalities primarily in the cortex of SSADH(-/-) mice.
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PMID:Expression profiling reveals multiple myelin alterations in murine succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency. 1660 81

Health problems in some animal models remain unexplained, rendering in vivo studies ethically challenging, especially when experimental animals are prone to sudden death. Over the last 3 decades, the myelin-deficient (md) rat, a strain with severe dysmyelination due to mutant proteolipid protein, has been key to important discoveries in mechanisms of myelination and glial cell biology. The usefulness of this mutant rat, however, has been limited by sudden death during the fourth week of life. Timely euthanasia has been difficult because the cause of these mortalities remains unexplained and the endpoint not determined. In this clinicopathologic study, we determined that sudden onset of hindlimb paralysis inevitably leads to paralysis of the urinary bladder and then breathing difficulties because of severe injury to the spinal cord in the midthoracic region with concurrent narrowing of the vertebral canal due to fracture of a vertebral body. Sudden onset of hindlimb paralysis likely is related to seizures and severe muscle spasms that begin to occur at the end of the third week of life. Once seizure activity begins, we recommend frequent monitoring of md rats for hindlimb paralysis and distention of the urinary bladder as indication of endpoints mandating prompt euthanasia.
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PMID:Endpoints in myelin-deficient (MD) rats. 2126 18


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