Abstract: Objective To explore the characteristic and differentiation of the proliferating cell in the spinal cord of adult amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) transgenic mice. Methods BrdU was injected at different time points during the symptomatic stage of the disease, and frozen sections were made. The cell characteristic and differentiation of the proliferating cell in the spinal cords of adult ALS transgenic mice were detected using double and triple immunofluorescence labeling technology. Results None BrdU/NeuN or BrdU/DCX double labeling cells were found in the central canal, gray matter and white matter of adult ALS transgenic mice spinal cord during the symptomatic stage of the disease. There were significantly NG2 labeling cells in the central canal, gray matter and white matter, expressing cells were detected a reduction in number during the symptomatic stage of the disease, and NG2 was expressed by most BrdU-labeled cells; Colocalization of A2B5 and BrdU was also detected in ALS mice. There were many BrdU/ GFAP double positive cells in the spinal cord of adult ALS transgenic mice, some were nestin positive, No BrdU/GFAP double labeling cells were found in wild type mice. Conclusion The neurodegenerative process stimulates a regenerative response, and there is significantly increased gliogenesis but absence of convincing neurogenesis. These data suggest that endogenous neural regeneration is insufficient for compensating the neurodegeneration.

Key words: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Spinal cord, Differentiation, Immunofluorescence, Transgenic mouse