Neuronal RNA in nucleus ambiguus and nucleus hypoglossus of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
H A HartmannE Uemura

Abstract

To establish objectively the involvement of neurons in the medulla oblongata in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), ribonucleic acid (RNA) content was determined in neurons of the hypoglossal nucleus and the nucleus ambiguus. Neurons from those two nuclei showed a significant loss of RNA content in patients with ALS; only 57% and 38% of the normal RNA content was found in hypoglossal and ambiguus neurons, respectively. This marked loss of neuronal RNA suggests changes in functional states of neurons, which may contribute to fasciculations in the tongue and difficulties in swallowing often associated with ALS.

Citations

Dec 1, 1992·Molecular and Chemical Neuropathology·H A Hartmann, D Y Sun
Oct 31, 2009·Neurobiology of Disease·Michela FerrucciFrancesco Fornai
Feb 6, 2014·Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism : Official Journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism·Matthew C EvansNicola R Sibson

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