The vulnerability of spinal motoneurons and soma size plasticity in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

key pointsMotoneuron soma size is a largely plastic property that is altered during amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression. We report evidence of systematic spinal motoneuron soma size plasticity in mutant SOD1-G93A mice at various disease stages and across sexes, spinal regions and motoneuron types. We show that disease-vulnerable motoneurons exhibit early increased soma sizes. We show via computer simulations that the measured changes in soma size have a profound impact on the excitability of disease-vulnerable motoneurons. This study reveals a novel form of plasticity in ALS and suggests a potential target for altering motoneuron function and survival. ABSTRACT: α-Motoneuron soma size is correlated with the cell's excitability and function, and has been posited as a plastic property that changes during cellular maturation, injury and disease. This study examined whether α-motoneuron somas change in size over disease progression in the G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease characterized by progressive motoneuron death. We used 2D- and 3D-morphometric analysis of motoneuron size and measures of cell density at four key disease stages: neonatal (P10 - with earliest known disease changes); young adult (P30 - presymptomatic with early motoneuron death); symptom onset (P90 - with death of 70-80% of motoneurons); and end-stage (P120+ - with full paralysis of hindlimbs). We additionally examined differences in lumbar vs. sacral vs. cervical motoneurons; in motoneurons from male vs. female mice; and in fast vs. slow motoneurons. We present the first evidence of plastic changes in the soma size of spinal α-motoneurons occurring throughout different stages of ALS with profound effects on motoneuron excitability. Somatic changes are time dependent and are characterized by early-stage enlargement (P10 and P30); no change around symptom onset; and shrinkage at end-stage. A key finding in the study indicates that disease-vulnerable motoneurons exhibit increased soma sizes (P10 and P30). This pattern was confirmed across spinal cord regions, genders and motoneuron types. This extends the theory of motoneuron size-based vulnerability in ALS: not only are larger motoneurons more vulnerable to death in ALS, but are also enlarged further in the disease. Such information is valuable for identifying ALS pathogenesis mechanisms.