Ryder S J, Spencer Y I, Bellerby P J, March S A
Department of Pathology, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Addlestone, Surrey.
Vet Rec. 2001 Jan 6;148(1):7-13. doi: 10.1136/vr.148.1.7.
Sections of the medulla oblongata from the brains of sheep were examined for prion protein (PrP) by immunohistochemistry. On the basis of the morphology and neuroanatomical distribution of the deposits, distinct disease-associated patterns of PrP deposition were identified in scrapie-affected sheep, suggesting at least four distinct phenotypes of scrapie. In addition, clearly defined patterns of PrP deposition, readily distinguished from the disease-associated PrP deposits, were identified in some normal sheep from scrapie-free flocks. In five sheep, believed to be preclinically affected by scrapie, PrP deposition of a disease-specific type but of restricted distribution was identified, demonstrating the sensitivity of the technique for the diagnosis of scrapie. The neuroanatomical distribution of these early PrP deposits suggest that the route of entry of the scrapie agent into the brain is via parasympathetic motor neurons in the vagus nerve which innervate the gastrointestinal tract.
通过免疫组织化学方法对绵羊大脑延髓切片进行朊病毒蛋白（PrP）检测。根据沉积物的形态和神经解剖分布，在感染羊瘙痒病的绵羊中鉴定出与疾病相关的不同PrP沉积模式，提示瘙痒病至少有四种不同的表型。此外，在一些来自无瘙痒病羊群的正常绵羊中，发现了明确界定的PrP沉积模式，很容易与疾病相关的PrP沉积物区分开来。在五只被认为处于瘙痒病临床前期的绵羊中，鉴定出了具有疾病特异性但分布受限的PrP沉积，证明了该技术对瘙痒病诊断的敏感性。这些早期PrP沉积物的神经解剖分布表明，瘙痒病病原体进入大脑的途径是通过支配胃肠道的迷走神经中的副交感运动神经元。
