Inhibition of Terminal Axonal Sprouting by Serum from Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

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Abstract
To investigate the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, we compared the effect of serum from patients with this disease on the regenerative sprouting of terminal axons in botuiinum-treated mouse gluteus muscle with the effects of serum from controls and from patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Serum from 9 of 19 patients with the sporadic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and from 2 of 6 patients with the familial form caused a reduction in the proportion of sprouting terminal axons, as compared with that found in muscles treated with serum from controls or diabetic patients. Immuno-globulin from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, when tested on immunoblots, recognized a 56-kilodalton protein secreted by denervated rat diaphragm muscle; rabbit antiserum raised against this protein also suppressed terminal axonal sprouting.