Changes in the Neuronal Population of the Spinal Cord of Mice with Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis as a Model of Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

We performed a quantitative study of the neuronal population in the spinal cord of mice with acute and chronic model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Immunohistological/immunofluorescent analysis with motor neuron marker ChAT revealed a significant decrease in the number of motor neurons in the ventral horns of the lumbar spinal cord in the acute form of autoimmune encephalomyelitis, with the further appearance of large empty (containing no motor neurons) areas in the ventral horns in the chronic form. The development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis is accompanied by degradation and death of neurons, in particular ChAT⁺ motor neurons.

Keywords: experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; motoneurons; spinal cord.