Assessing Motor Function in an Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis Mouse Model

Abstract

Source: Gonsalvez, D. G., et al., A Simple Approach to Induce Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis in C57BL/6 Mice for Functional and Neuropathological Assessments. J. Vis. Exp. (2017).

This video demonstrates the process of assessing motor dysfunction in a mouse model through the administration of Pertussis toxin and an inoculum containing myelin-mimicking peptides and adjuvants, followed by treadmill tests to assess motor function and evaluate the resulting nerve damage due to immune activation and demyelination.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.

1. EAN (Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis) Induction

NOTE: EAN can be successfully induced in male C57BL/6 mice aged between 6-8 weeks. The induction protocol takes 9 days in total. Day 0 refers to the day of the first immunization. For this protocol, injections were conducted under anesthesia (see step 1.1.2 below).

1. On Day -1:
   1. Prepare the Pertussis Toxin (see Table of Mate....

Results

Table 1: EAN clinical score paradigm.

Score	Criteria	Notes and comments on assessment criteria
0	Normal mouse
1	Less lively OR lathery	This is assessed in response to normal handl.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
C57BL/6, male, 6-8 weeks old	Australian Bioresources Cenre, WA, Australia
Pertussis toxin	List Biological Laboratories, Inc., CA, USA	#181
0.1M mouse-isotonic phosphated buffered salined (MT-PBS)			Laboratories will have their own protocol.
Isoflurane	Pharmachem, QLD, Australia		Laboratories will have their own protocol for administration.
P0180–199 peptide	Wuxi Nordisk Biotech Co. Lt. SHG, CHN		P0180–199, sequence S–S–K–R–G–R– Q–T–P–V–L–Y–A–M–L–D–H–S–R–S
Heat killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis (strain H37RA)	Difco, MI, USA	#231141
Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)	Difco, MI, USA	#263910
16% Paraformaldehyde (PFA)	Electron Microscopy Services	#15710	Dilute to 4% PFA day of tissue collection.
25% glutaraldheyde	ProSciTech Pty Ltd, QLD, Australia	#11-30-8	Dilute to 2.5% glutaraldehyde day of fixation.
Sodium azide	Chem-Supply Pty Ltd, SA, Australia	SL189	Create 10% (w/v) stock in 0.1M MT-PBS. Use at 0.03% (v/v).
Sucrose	Chem-Supply Pty Ltd, SA, Australia	SA030	Use at 30% (w/v).
Optimum cutting temperature (OCT) medium	Sakura Finetek, CA, USA	#4583
Normal donkey serum	Merck Millipore, MA, USA	#S30-100	Use as antibody diluent at 10% (v/v) or other concentration determined by own laboratory.
Triton-X 100	Sigma Aldrich, MI, USA	#90o2-31-1	Use in antibody diluent at 0.3% (v/v) or other concentration determined by own laboratory.
Rabbit anti-amyloid precursor protein (APP)	Invitrogen (Life Technologies), CA, USA	S12700	Used at 1:400 or titrate in own lab.
Rabbit anti-contactin-associated protein-1 (Caspr)	Gift from Prof Elior Peles, Wiezmann Institute of Science, Israel		Used at 1:500 or titrate in own lab.
Appropriate Alexa Fluor conjugated secondary antibodies	Molecular Probes (Life Technologies), OR, USA	Various	Use at 1:200 or titrate in own lab. Choice of species the antibody was raised in and Alexa Fluor chosen is at the discretion of each laboratory.
Aqueous mounting solution	Dako (Agilent), CA, USA	#S3023	Each laboratory will have their own preference.
Equipment
0.5 mL syringe with 301/2 g needles	BD	#326105
23 g needles	BD	#305143
Red ink pad			Any red ink pad or red food dye could be used to mark the animals' feet.
DigiGate apparatus (includes treadmill)	eMouse Specifics Inc. Framingham, MA
DigiGate Imaging System	eMouse Specifics Inc. Framingham, MA
Stopwatch			Any timer may be used.
DigiGait 8 Software	eMouse Specifics Inc. Framingham, MA
Dissecting microscope	Zeiss		Any appropriate dissecting microscope may be used.
Charged slides	Superfrost Plus, Lomb Scientific Pty Ltd	SF41296SP
Cyrostat	Leica		Any suitable cyrostat may be used.
Perfusion equipment and dissecting instruments			Labs will have their own perfusion protoctols.
Opaque humified chamber			Labs may produce their own using an opaque plastic container.
PAP pene	GeneTex (USA)		Wax pencil, or surface tension may also be used to create a well around the tissue section.
Confocal microscope	Zeis LSM780		Any confocal microscope with appropriate laser lines may be used.
FIJI/Image J	National Institues of Health		Available from www.fiji.sc