Tubulovesicular particles occur early in the incubation period of murine scrapie |
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Authors: | M Jeffrey J R Fraser |
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Institution: | (1) Lasswade Veterinary Laboratory, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik Midlothian EH26 OPZ, Scotland, GB;(2) BBSRC and MRC, Neuropathogenesis Unit, Ogston Building, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh EH9 3JF, Scotland, GB |
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Abstract: | Tubulovesicular bodies are structures, apparently specific to the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, which are of
unknown composition and significance. Prion protein (PrP) is absent from tubulovesicular bodies when tissues are examined
by immunogold electron microscopy. In the F1 cross of C57 and VM mice (CVF1) infected with ME7 scrapie there is a marked degeneration
of hippocampal CA1 neurons. In this model the earliest changes seen, at about 100 days post inoculation (dpi) are a degeneration
of axon terminals and synaptic loss. Terminal disease is around 250 dpi. In blind coded trials we counted the number of tubulovesicular
particles and estimated their density in 56–76 electron micrographs taken from the stratum radiatum of each of one or two
CVF1 ME7-infected mice at 84, 100, 126, 154 and 181 dpi and from four normal brain inoculated control mice. Tubulovesicular
particles were present from 98 dpi and the density of particles increased with increasing incubation period. The very early
occurrence of tubulovesicular particles, before the presence of significant pathology, argues that tubulovesicular particles
are a part of the primary disease and are not epiphenomena.
Received: 28 June 1999 / Revised: 30 August 1999 / Accepted: 6 September 1999 |
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Keywords: | Tubulovesicular particles Scrapie Electron microscopy Prion protein Transmissible ?spongiform encephalopathy |
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