Steinman JL, Komisaruk BR, Pert C, Ruff M; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1993 Jun 6-11; 9: 193 (abstract no. PO-A17-0353).

State Univ. of New Jersey, Newark 07102.

INTRODUCTION: Neurological deficits have been observed in neonatal rats following systemic administration of gp-120 (Hill et al, 1992, Brain Res.), an envelope protein of HIV. Furthermore, direct injection of gp-120 to the cerebral ventricles results in memory impairments in adult rats (Glowa et al. 1992, Brain Res.). The present study found that direct administration of gp-120 to the spinal cord via chronically indwelling intrathecal (IT) catheters induced forelimb monoparesis in adult female rats. METHODS: IT catheters (PE-10 tubing, 7 cm length) were surgically implanted under anesthesia 7-10 days prior to testing. Motor performance (hindlimb and forelimb use, walking patterns) was videotaped before and up to 12 hrs after rats received either gp-120 (1 ng/5 microliters saline) or vehicle alone. The experimenter was blind to treatment. RESULTS: Seven of 10 rats receiving IT gp-120 showed monoparesis of either the left or right forelimb; none of the saline control rats exhibited paresis (Chi 2 = 6.39, df = 1, p < 0.02 comparing the two treatment groups). The onset of monoparesis was variable (mean +/- sem = 22.2 +/- 7.4 min), appearing as early as 4 min post IT injection. The mean recovery time was 6 hrs. In 3 of the 7 rats, the monoparesis appeared intermittently during the first two hours, then persisted for the next 3-4 hrs; in the other 4 rats, monoparesis was continuously present from its onset. In 5 of the 7 rats, forelimb monoparesis was accompanied by hindlimb rigidity during walking or when pressure was placed manually against the footpad. At autopsy, it was found that the monoparesis was ipsilateral to the side of the spinal cord where the tip of the IT catheter was positioned. This points to the specificity of the effect of gp-120 in acting locally, at or near the level of the motoneurons, to produce forelimb paresis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that an envelope protein of HIV induces discrete motor deficits when administered directly to the spinal cord, providing a unique model for studying gp120-induced neuronal deficits.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Animals
• Brain
• Female
• Forelimb
• HIV
• HIV Seropositivity
• Motor Neurons
• Muridae
• Paresis
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Strains
• Rats, Long-Evans
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Rats, Wistar
• Spinal Cord
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Spinal Cord Ischemia
• Upper Extremity
• Walking

Other ID:

• 93333796

UI: 102203170

From Meeting Abstracts