Induction of c-Jun immunoreactivity in spinal cord and brainstem neurons in a transgenic mouse model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Transgenic mice carrying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-linked superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mutations develop a motoneuron disease resembling human ALS. c-Jun is a transcription factor frequently induced in injured neurons. In this study we have examined the distribution of c-Jun-immunoreactivity in the brainstem and spinal cord of transgenic SOD1 mice with a glycine 93 alanine (G93A) mutation. In non-transgenic littermates c-Jun immunostaining was predominantly situated in motoneurons. The number of c-Jun immunoreactive motoneuron was reduced in SOD1(G93A) mice due to pronounced loss of motoneurons. In SOD1(G93A) mice, however, c-Jun-immunoreactivity was strongly induced in neurons in the intermediate zone (Rexed's laminae V-VIII and X) of the spinal cord and throughout the brainstem reticular formation. These findings are of interest since increased levels of c-jun also have been found in the intermediate zone of the spinal cord of ALS patients. This c-Jun may be involved in the neurodegenerative processes both in ALS and in motoneuron disease in SOD1(G93A) mice.