Ectopic expression ofGcm1induces congenital spinal cord abnormalities

Development ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 129 (16) ◽  
pp. 3957-3964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brahim Nait-Oumesmar ◽  
Barbara Stecca ◽  
Girish Fatterpekar ◽  
Thomas Naidich ◽  
Joshua Corbin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Transgene Expression ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Spinal Column ◽  
Life Time ◽  
Tail Bud ◽  
Neural Tubes ◽  
Motor Disabilities ◽  
Transgenic Lines ◽  
Stimulation Of

Brief ectopic expression of Gcm1 in mouse embryonic tail bud profoundly affects the development of the nervous system. All mice from 5 independently derived transgenic lines exhibited either one or both of two types of congenital spinal cord pathologies: failure of the neural tube to close (spina bifida) and multiple neural tubes (diastematomyelia). Because the transgene is expressed only in a restricted caudal region and only for a brief interval (E8.5 to E13.5), there was no evidence of embryonic lethality. The dysraphisms develop during the period and within the zone of transgene expression. We present evidence that these dysraphisms result from an inhibition of neuropore closure and a stimulation of secondary neurulation. After transgene expression ceases, the spinal dysraphisms are progressively resolved and the neonatal animals, while showing signs of scarring and tissue resorption, have a closed vertebral column. The multiple spinal cords remain but are enclosed in a single spinal column as in the human diastematomyelia. The animals live a normal life time, are fertile and do not exhibit any obvious weakness or motor disabilities.

Drastic Decrease in Isoflurane Minimum Alveolar Concentration and Limb Movement Forces after Thoracic Spinal Cooling and Chronic Spinal Transection in Rats

2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 624-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven L. Jinks ◽  
Carmen L. Dominguez ◽  
Joseph F. Antognini
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Minimum Alveolar Concentration ◽  
Tail Flick ◽  
Noxious Stimulation ◽  
Partial Recovery ◽  
Spinal Transection ◽  
Thoracic Spinal ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Stimulation Of

Background Individuals with spinal cord injury may undergo multiple surgical procedures; however, it is not clear how spinal cord injury affects anesthetic requirements and movement force under anesthesia during both acute and chronic stages of the injury. Methods The authors determined the isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) necessary to block movement in response to supramaximal noxious stimulation, as well as tail-flick and hind paw withdrawal latencies, before and up to 28 days after thoracic spinal transection. Tail-flick and hind paw withdrawal latencies were measured in the awake state to test for the presence of spinal shock or hyperreflexia. The authors measured limb forces elicited by noxious mechanical stimulation of a paw or the tail at 28 days after transection. Limb force experiments were also conducted in other animals that received a reversible spinal conduction block by cooling the spinal cord at the level of the eighth thoracic vertebra. Results A large decrease in MAC (to </= 40% of pretransection values) occurred after spinal transection, with partial recovery (to approximately 60% of control) at 14-28 days after transection. Awake tail-flick and hind paw withdrawal latencies were facilitated or unchanged, whereas reflex latencies under isoflurane were depressed or absent. However, at 80-90% of MAC, noxious stimulation of the hind paw elicited ipsilateral limb withdrawals in all animals. Hind limb forces were reduced (by >/= 90%) in both chronic and acute cold-block spinal animals. Conclusions The immobilizing potency of isoflurane increases substantially after spinal transection, despite the absence of a baseline motor depression, or "spinal shock." Therefore, isoflurane MAC is determined by a spinal depressant action, possibly counteracted by a supraspinal facilitatory action. The partial recovery in MAC at later time points suggests that neuronal plasticity after spinal cord injury influences anesthetic requirements.

scholarly journals Polyamine-modulated c-Myc expression in normal intestinal epithelial cells regulates p21Cip1 transcription through a proximal promoter region

2006 ◽  
Vol 398 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan Liu ◽  
Xin Guo ◽  
Jaladanki N. Rao ◽  
Tongtong Zou ◽  
Bernard S. Marasa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Transcriptional Repression ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Proximal Region ◽  
Proximal Promoter ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial ◽  
Major Player ◽  
Stimulation Of

Maintenance of intestinal mucosal epithelial integrity requires cellular polyamines that regulate expression of various genes involved in cell proliferation, growth arrest and apoptosis. Our previous studies have shown that polyamines are essential for expression of the c-myc gene and that polyamine-induced c-Myc plays a critical role in stimulation of normal IEC (intestinal epithelial cell) proliferation, but the exact downstream targets of induced c-Myc are still unclear. The p21Cip1 protein is a major player in cell cycle control, which is primarily regulated at the transcriptional level. The current study was designed to determine whether induced c-Myc stimulates normal IEC proliferation by repressing p21Cip1 transcription following up-regulation of polyamines. Overexpression of the ODC (ornithine decarboxylase) gene increased levels of cellular polyamines, induced c-Myc expression and inhibited p21Cip1 transcription, as indicated by repression of p21Cip1 promoter activity and a decrease in p21Cip1 protein levels. In contrast, depletion of cellular polyamines by inhibiting ODC enzyme activity with α-difluoromethylornithine decreased c-Myc, but increased p21Cip1 transcription. Ectopic expression of wild-type c-myc not only inhibited basal levels of p21Cip1 transcription in control cells, but also prevented increased p21Cip1 in polyamine-deficient cells. Experiments using different p21Cip1 promoter mutants showed that transcriptional repression of p21Cip1 by c-Myc was mediated through Miz-1- and Sp1-binding sites within the proximal region of the p21Cip1 promoter in normal IECs. These findings confirm that p21Cip1 is one of the direct mediators of induced c-Myc following increased polyamines and that p21Cip1 repression by c-Myc is implicated in stimulation of normal IEC proliferation.

Electrical Stimulation of the Spinal Cord and Peripheral Nerves for Pain Control

1981 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 207-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don M. Long ◽  
Donald Erickson ◽  
James Campbell ◽  
Richard North
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Peripheral Nerves ◽  
Pain Control ◽  
Stimulation Of
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