thymosin and Neuromuscular-Diseases

Mixed bovine gangliosides have been reported to enhance neuronal regeneration and sprouting. The Wobbler mouse model of motor neuron disease was used to test the clinical effects of long-term ganglioside administration on the course of the disease. Mixed gangliosides were injected subcutaneously into a group of 5 Wobbler mice and compared to a control group of 5 Wobbler mice which received saline. Because of several reports implicating involvement of the immune system in ALS, a 3rd group of 5 Wobbler mice received thymosin. All mice were 4 weeks old at commencement of injections. The 3 groups were examined weekly and graded with respect to front leg power, ability to climb a vertical grating, and walking posture. After 4 months of treatment, no significant difference between either experimental group and the controls was found.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Gangliosides; Mice; Mice, Neurologic Mutants; Motor Neurons; Nerve Regeneration; Neuromuscular Diseases; Thymosin