Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1-2
pubmed:dateCreated
2000-12-1
pubmed:abstractText
An early onset of systemic, lupus-like disease in MRL-lpr mice is accompanied by deterioration in their behavioral performance and atrophy of pyramidal neurons in the parietal cortex and the hippocampal CA1 area. Using the immunosuppressive drug cyclophosphamide (CY) to attenuate the disease, we have tested the hypothesis that the autoimmune/inflammatory process is responsible for changes in brain morphology. A modified Golgi impregnation method revealed that, in comparison to saline-treated controls, immunosuppressive treatment with CY (100 mg/kg/week i.p. over 8 weeks) increased dendritic branching and spine numerical density in the CA1 region of MRL-lpr mice and MRL +/+ mice, which develop less severe manifestations of the disease. More interestingly, CY selectively prevented the atrophy and aberrant morphology of pyramidal neurons in the parietal cortex of MRL-lpr mice. The neuropathological measures (in particular reduced dendritic spine density) significantly correlated with increased serum levels of antinuclear antibodies and splenomegaly. The present results support the hypothesis that chronic autoimmune disease induces functionally important changes in neuronal morphology, and provide an empirical basis for understanding the behavioral dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus and autoimmune phenomena reported in some forms of mental illness.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Nov
pubmed:issn
0165-5728
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
1
pubmed:volume
111
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
93-101
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2000
pubmed:articleTitle
Immunosuppression prevents neuronal atrophy in lupus-prone mice: evidence for brain damage induced by autoimmune disease?
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, 1200 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. sakic@mcmaster.ca
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't