Gao_1998_Zhongguo.Yi.Xue.Ke.Xue.Yuan.Xue.Bao_20_296

OBJECTIVE In order to determine the role of antibody against motoneuron in the process of neuronal death. METHODS: Cultured rat cortical neurons growing in serum-free medium, were employed to observe the effects of antibody against motoneuron (anti-SMN) on the survival of these cultured neurons. RESULTS: (1) Exposure of the cultures in serum-free medium to anti-SMN with dilution of 1:50 results in death of 31%-41% of neurons for 24 hours incubation, 50%-67% for 48 hours and above 90% after 72 hours. The neurotoxicity induced by anti-SMN was accompanied by concentration-dependent release of lactate dehydrogenase into the culture medium. Cultures exposed to normal rat IgG as controls exhibited no such sign. (2) The cultured neurons exposed to anti-SMN (1:200) expressed markedly higher levels of immunoreactive Calbindin-D28k especially after 48 hours incubation with it. There was a reduction in the number of acetylcholinesterase-positive neurons compared to the normal control.
CONCLUSIONS: The anti-SMN could directly initiate the process of cortical neuronal death and this effect was independent of complement. The alteration of Calbindin-D28k immunoreactivity implied that calcium may be involved in the neurotoxicity induced by anti-SMN.