Quantitative analysis of white matter neurons in marmosets with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

The general aim of this study was to investigate the densitiy of white matter neurons in marmosets with MOG-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The specific aim was to see whether there was an increase or a decrease in neuronal densitiy within acute demyelinated white matter lesions compared to normal appearing white matter (NAWM) and non-EAE control white matter. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify white matter neurons expressing microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN). In animals with EAE, the densities of MAP2-positive neurons were significantly increased in lesions compared to NAWM. However using the antibody against NeuN there were similar densities of NeuN-positive neurons in lesions and NAWM within EAE animals. Therefore there was no evidence of neuronal loss or neurogenesis in acute demyelinated white matter lesions in marmosets with EAE. The higher density of MAP2-positve neurons in lesions might be a reaction to the inflammatory environment. 2014-01-2