Visual System Impairment in a Mouse Model of Krabbe Disease: The Twitcher Mouse.
Ilaria TonazziniChiara CerriAmbra Del GrossoSara AntoniniManuela AllegraMatteo CaleoMarco CecchiniPublished in: Biomolecules (2020)
Krabbe disease (KD, or globoid cell leukodystrophy; OMIM #245200) is an inherited neurodegenerative condition belonging to the class of the lysosomal storage disorders. It is caused by genetic alterations in the gene encoding for the enzyme galactosylceramidase, which is responsible for cleaving the glycosydic linkage of galatosylsphingosine (psychosine or PSY), a highly cytotoxic molecule. Here, we describe morphological and functional alterations in the visual system of the Twitcher (TWI) mouse, the most used animal model of Krabbe disease. We report in vivo electrophysiological recordings showing defective basic functional properties of the TWI primary visual cortex. In particular, we demonstrate a reduced visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, and a delayed visual response. Specific neuropathological alterations are present in the TWI visual cortex, with reduced myelination, increased astrogliosis and microglia activation, and around the whole brain. Finally, we quantify PSY content in the brain and optic nerves by high-pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods. An increasing PSY accumulation with time, the characteristic hallmark of KD, is found in both districts. These results represent the first complete characterization of the TWI visual system. Our data set a baseline for an easy testing of potential therapies for this district, which is also dramatically affected in KD patients.
Keyphrases
- mass spectrometry
- liquid chromatography
- mouse model
- genome wide
- end stage renal disease
- chronic kidney disease
- newly diagnosed
- resting state
- white matter
- south africa
- tandem mass spectrometry
- dna methylation
- functional connectivity
- computed tomography
- high resolution
- inflammatory response
- prognostic factors
- stem cells
- single cell
- patient reported outcomes
- neuropathic pain
- bone marrow
- capillary electrophoresis
- multiple sclerosis
- gene expression
- climate change
- deep learning
- transcription factor
- hiv testing
- data analysis
- high density