Down's syndrome: morphological remodelling and increased complexity in the neuromuscular junction of transgenic CuZn-superoxide dismutase mice. 1991

K B Avraham, and H Sugarman, and S Rotshenker, and Y Groner
Department of Molecular Genetics and Virology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.

Transgenic mice carrying the human CuZn-superoxide dismutase gene were used to investigate whether CuZn-superoxide dismutase gene dosage is involved in the signs of neuromuscular junction deterioration associated with Down's syndrome. Three parameters of neuromuscular junction morphology were studied in hindlimb muscles of CuZn-superoxide dismutase-transgenic mice and their non-transgenic littermates: nerve terminal length, number of nerve terminal branching points and incidence of sprouting that results in synapse formation. These parameters increased with advanced age and the increase occurred earlier in CuZn-superoxide dismutase-transgenic mice. Therefore, the data is in line with the possibility that CuZn-superoxide dismutase-transgenic mice are undergoing premature ageing with respect to neuromuscular junction morphology, most probably owing to a gene dosage effect of CuZn-superoxide dismutase.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008822 Mice, Transgenic Laboratory mice that have been produced from a genetically manipulated EGG or EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN. Transgenic Mice,Founder Mice, Transgenic,Mouse, Founder, Transgenic,Mouse, Transgenic,Mice, Transgenic Founder,Transgenic Founder Mice,Transgenic Mouse
D009132 Muscles Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals. Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009469 Neuromuscular Junction The synapse between a neuron and a muscle. Myoneural Junction,Nerve-Muscle Preparation,Junction, Myoneural,Junction, Neuromuscular,Junctions, Myoneural,Junctions, Neuromuscular,Myoneural Junctions,Nerve Muscle Preparation,Nerve-Muscle Preparations,Neuromuscular Junctions,Preparation, Nerve-Muscle,Preparations, Nerve-Muscle
D004303 Dosage Compensation, Genetic Genetic mechanisms that allow GENES to be expressed at a similar level irrespective of their GENE DOSAGE. This term is usually used in discussing genes that lie on the SEX CHROMOSOMES. Because the sex chromosomes are only partially homologous, there is a different copy number, i.e., dosage, of these genes in males vs. females. In DROSOPHILA, dosage compensation is accomplished by hypertranscription of genes located on the X CHROMOSOME. In mammals, dosage compensation of X chromosome genes is accomplished by random X CHROMOSOME INACTIVATION of one of the two X chromosomes in the female. Dosage Compensation (Genetics),Gene Dosage Compensation,Hypertranscription, X-Chromosome,X-Chromosome Hypertranscription,Compensation, Dosage (Genetics),Compensation, Gene Dosage,Compensation, Genetic Dosage,Dosage Compensation, Gene,Gene Dosage Compensations,Genetic Dosage Compensation,Genetic Dosage Compensations,Hypertranscription, X Chromosome,X Chromosome Hypertranscription
D004314 Down Syndrome A chromosome disorder associated either with an extra CHROMOSOME 21 or an effective TRISOMY for chromosome 21. Clinical manifestations include HYPOTONIA, short stature, BRACHYCEPHALY, upslanting palpebral fissures, epicanthus, Brushfield spots on the iris, protruding tongue, small ears, short, broad hands, fifth finger clinodactyly, single transverse palmar crease, and moderate to severe INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY. Cardiac and gastrointestinal malformations, a marked increase in the incidence of LEUKEMIA, and the early onset of ALZHEIMER DISEASE are also associated with this condition. Pathologic features include the development of NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES in neurons and the deposition of AMYLOID BETA-PROTEIN, similar to the pathology of ALZHEIMER DISEASE. (Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p213) Mongolism,Trisomy 21,47,XX,+21,47,XY,+21,Down Syndrome, Partial Trisomy 21,Down's Syndrome,Partial Trisomy 21 Down Syndrome,Trisomy 21, Meiotic Nondisjunction,Trisomy 21, Mitotic Nondisjunction,Trisomy G,Downs Syndrome,Syndrome, Down,Syndrome, Down's
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000375 Aging The gradual irreversible changes in structure and function of an organism that occur as a result of the passage of time. Senescence,Aging, Biological,Biological Aging
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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