Cytoplasmic inclusions in spinal neurons of the motor neuron degeneration (Mnd) mouse. I. Light microscopic analysis.

The motor neuron degeneration (Mnd) mutation in the mouse is a late onset, autosomal dominant, neurodegenerative disease in which ventral horn neurons have been shown to contain numerous, large cytoplasmic inclusions. Histochemical and immunocytochemical studies performed on spinal cord from Mnd/Mnd mice in late stages of the disease showed the inclusions to contain protein, lipid and carbohydrate moieties. Spinal neurons, especially those in spinal lamina IX, contained increased beta-glucuronidase activity in the form of large cytoplasmic inclusions. Such inclusions also contained increased acid phosphatase and trimetaphosphatase activity. When immunostained with antiubiquitin antibodies, intracellular ubiquitin deposits were present as accumulations of varying size; some were amorphous while others contained small granules. Extraneuronal ubiquitin deposits were detected in the neuropil. Immunostaining with monoclonal antibody ML30, used here to assay for the presence of a mitochondrial epitope in the inclusions, was widespread and punctate in white and grey matter from Mnd/Mnd and age-matched control spinal cords. The overall pattern of staining was similar for both tissue sources and did not correspond to any of the other probes which reacted with the inclusions in Mnd neurons. The presence of increased levels of lysosomal hydrolases and ubiquitinated molecules suggests that the two general systems for intracellular digestion are activated in Mnd/Mnd spinal neurons.