Beneficial effects of minocycline on cuprizone induced cortical demyelination

Neurochem Res. 2010 Sep;35(9):1422-33. doi: 10.1007/s11064-010-0202-7. Epub 2010 Jun 11.

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the potential of minocycline to influence cuprizone induced demyelination in the grey and white matter. To induce demyelination C57BL/6 mice were fed with cuprizone for up to 6 weeks and were analysed at different timepoints (week 0, 4, 5, 6). Mice treated with minocycline had less demyelination of the cortex and corpus callosum compared with sham treated animals. In the cortex decreased numbers of activated and proliferating microglia were found after 6 weeks of cuprizone feeding, while there were no significant effects for microglial infiltration of the corpus callosum. In addition to the beneficial effects on demyelination, minocycline prevented from motor coordination disturbance as shown in the beam walking test. For astrogliosis and the numbers of OPC and oligodendrocytes no treatment effects were found. In summary, minocycline treatment diminished the course of demyelination in the grey and white matter and prevented disturbances in motor coordination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Cerebral Cortex* / cytology
  • Cerebral Cortex* / drug effects
  • Cerebral Cortex* / pathology
  • Chelating Agents / pharmacology
  • Corpus Callosum / drug effects
  • Corpus Callosum / pathology
  • Cuprizone / pharmacology*
  • Demyelinating Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Minocycline / pharmacology*
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated* / drug effects
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated* / pathology
  • Oligodendroglia / cytology
  • Oligodendroglia / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Chelating Agents
  • Cuprizone
  • Minocycline