Calcineurin A and calbindin immunoreactivity in the spinal cord of G93A superoxide dismutase transgenic mice

A qualitative immunohistochemical study was performed on calcineurin A- and calbindin-positive neurons in the spinal cord of transgenic mice, an anima l model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, carrying the G93A mutation of the Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase gene. The results show that calcineurin A-immun oreactive motoneurons are affected by the neurodegenerative process; in con trast, calbindin-positive cells are selectively spared. The findings sugges t that calcineurin plays a role as an accessory factor responsible for sele ctive vulnerability in the neurodegenerative process of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.