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Changes in sympathetic activity in prion neuroinvasion
Gianpietro Bondiolotti1, Giuseppe Rossoni, Maria Puricelli
1Department of Pharmacology, Chemotherapy and Medical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Neurobiology of Disease
|October 7, 2009
Summary
Prion diseases impact the sympathetic nervous system. Peripheral prion infection increases noradrenaline and blood pressure, showing neuroinvasion uses nerves to reach the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pathology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by infectious prions (PrP(res)).
- Natural prion transmission occurs peripherally, involving the lymphoreticular system and peripheral nerves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of prion neuroinvasion on sympathetic nerve function.
- To determine if peripheral prion infection alters autonomic nervous system activity.
Main Methods:
- Mice were infected intraperitoneally or intracerebrally with prions.
- Plasma catecholamine levels (noradrenaline, adrenaline), blood pressure, and heart rate were measured.
- Prion tissue levels were assessed.
Main Results:
- Peripheral prion infection significantly increased plasma noradrenaline levels, but not adrenaline.
- Intracerebral infection did not affect catecholamine levels.
- Increased noradrenaline correlated with elevated blood pressure in peripherally infected mice.
Conclusions:
- Prion neuroinvasion utilizes the sympathetic nervous system for spread from the periphery to the central nervous system.
- Sympathetic nerve dysfunction is an early event in peripheral prion disease pathogenesis.
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