Quantitative Cellular Changes in the Thalamus of Patients with Multiple System Atrophy. (1st April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vigen, Tanya R.; Brudek, Tomasz; Pakkenberg, Bente; Olesen, Mikkel V.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience. Volume 459(2021)
• Page Start: 142
• Page End: 152
• Publication Date: 2021-04-01
• Subjects: Apn anterior principal nucleus -- GCIs glial cytoplasmic inclusions -- MDT mediodorsal nucleus -- MSA Multiple System Atrophy -- α-syn α-synuclein; thalamus -- glial cells -- multiple system atrophy -- neurons -- stereology; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurochimie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurochemistry; Neurophysiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.02.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4522

Abstract

Highlights: Reduced neuron number is found in thalamic MD in MSA patients. The number of astrocytes and microglia was increased in the MDT, but not the APn. There was no change in the number of oligodendrocytes in the MDT and APn. Abstract: The thalamus is a brain region consisting of anatomical and functional connections between various spinal, subcortical, and cortical regions, which has a putative role in the clinical manifestation of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Previous stereological studies have reported significant anatomical alterations in diverse brain regions of MSA patients, including the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia and white matter, but no quantitative studies have examined the thalamus. To establish the extent of thalamic involvement, we applied stereological methods to estimate the total number of neurons and glial cells (oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and microglia) as well as the volume in two thalamic sub-regions, the mediodorsal nucleus (MDT) and the anterior principal nucleus (APn), in brains from ten MSA patients and 11 healthy control subjects. Compared to healthy controls, MSA patients had significantly fewer neurons (26%) in the MDT, but not the APn. We also found significantly more astrocytes (32%) and microglia (54%) in the MDT, with no such changes in the APn. Finally, we saw no group differences in the total number of oligodendrocytes. Our findings show a region-specific loss of thalamic neurons that occurs without loss of oligodendrocytes, whereas thalamic microgliosis seems to occur alongside astrogliosis. These pathological changes in the thalamus may contribute to the cognitive impairment seen in most patients with MSA.