A method for histopathological study of the multifocal nature of spinal cord lesions in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Katherine N Gibson-Corley; Alexander W Boyden; Mariah R Leidinger; Allyn M Lambertz; Georgina Ofori-Amanfo; Paul W Naumann; J Adam Goeken; Nitin J Karandikar

doi:10.7717/peerj.1600

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A method for histopathological study of the multifocal nature of spinal cord lesions in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

A method for histopathological study of the multifocal nature of spinal cord lesions in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Katherine N Gibson-Corley, Alexander W Boyden, Mariah R Leidinger, Allyn M Lambertz, Georgina Ofori-Amanfo, Paul W Naumann, J Adam Goeken and Nitin J Karandikar

PeerJ (San Francisco, CA), Vol.4(1), pp.e1600-e1600

2016

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1600

PMCID: PMC4741089

PMID: 26855861

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Abstract

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a well-established mouse model for multiple sclerosis and is characterized by infiltration of mononuclear cells and demyelination within the central nervous system along with the clinical symptoms of paralysis. EAE is a multifocal and random disease, which sometimes makes histopathologic analysis of lesions difficult as it may not be possible to predict where lesions will occur, especially when evaluating cross sections of spinal cord. Consequently, lesions may be easily missed due to limited sampling in traditional approaches. To evaluate the entire length of the spinal cord while maintaining anatomic integrity, we have developed a method to section the cord within the decalcified spinal column, which allows for the study of the multifocal nature of this disease and also minimizes handling artifact. HE and Luxol fast blue staining of these spinal cord sections revealed a paucity of lesions in some areas, while others showed marked inflammation and demyelination. The percentage of spinal cord affected by EAE was evaluated at four separate areas of longitudinally sectioned cord and it varied greatly within each animal. Immunohistochemical staining of in situ spinal cords which had undergone decalcification was successful for key immuno-markers used in EAE research including CD3 for T cells, B220 for B cells and F4/80 for murine macrophages. This method will allow investigators to look at the entire spinal cord on a single slide and evaluate the spinal cord with and without classic EAE lesions.

EAE

Spinal cord

Mice

Histopathology

Details

Title: Subtitle: A method for histopathological study of the multifocal nature of spinal cord lesions in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Creators: Katherine N Gibson-Corley - University of Iowa
Alexander W Boyden - University of Iowa
Mariah R Leidinger - University of Iowa
Allyn M Lambertz - University of Iowa
Georgina Ofori-Amanfo - University of Iowa
Paul W Naumann - University of Iowa
J Adam Goeken - University of Iowa
Nitin J Karandikar - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: PeerJ (San Francisco, CA), Vol.4(1), pp.e1600-e1600
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1600
PMID: 26855861
PMCID: PMC4741089
NLM abbreviation: PeerJ
ISSN: 2167-8359
eISSN: 2167-8359
Grant note: R01 AI092106 / NIAID NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 2016
Academic Unit: The University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research; Pathology; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984183988102771

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