Journal of Neurology Research, ISSN 1923-2845 print, 1923-2853 online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Neurol Res and Elmer Press Inc
Journal website http://www.neurores.org

Original Article

Volume 1, Number 4, October 2011, pages 139-144

Zonisamide Treatment Delays Motor Neuron Degeneration and Astrocyte Proliferation in Wobbler Mice

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1. Progression of forelimb motor deficits. High-dose zonisamide administration retards progression of forelimb dysfunction significantly. (P < 0.01 by Kaplan-Meyer method).
Figure 2.
Figure 2. Pull-strength of the forelimbs. High-dose zonisamide administration delays decline of pull-strength at 3 and 4 weeks after treatment. (*P < 0.01 at 3 and 4 weeks after treatment by unpaired Student’s t-test).
Figure 3.
Figure 3. Denervation changes of the biceps muscles. (A) ATPase staining of biceps muscles. (a) Vehicle treatment. (b) Low-dose zonisamide treatment. (c) High-dose zonisamide treatment. (B) Treatment with high-dose zonisamide increases the mean diameter of muscle fibers at 30%. (P < 0.01 between the high-dose zonisamide group and the vehicle group by one-way ANOVA followed by Scheffe’s test)
Figure 4.
Figure 4. Total number of survived motor neurons. (A) Nissl staining of C5-6 cord. (a) Vehicle treatment. (b) Low-dose zonisamide treatment. (c) High-dose zonisamide treatment. (B) High-dose zonisamide administration inhibits the loss of motor neurons at 45%. (P < 0.01 between the high-dose zonisamide group and the vehicle group by one-way ANOVA followed by Scheffe’s test)
Figure 5.
Figure 5. Number of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes. (A) GFAP immunostaining of C5-6 cord. (a) Vehicle treatment. (b) Low-dose zonisamide treatment. (c) High-dose zonisamide treatment. (B) High-dose zonisamide treatment decreases degree of astrocyte proliferation at 60%. (P < 0.01 between the high-dose zonisamide and the vehicle group by one-way ANOVA followed by Scheffe’s test)