Immunocytochemical and quantitative analyses were used to correlate the loc
alisation of excitatory amino acid transporter proteins EAAT1, EAAT2 with t
ime in spinal motoneurones of presymptomatic and symptomatic mice with the
G93A mutant SOD1 gene. Specimens from age-matched non-transgenic wildtype m
ice served as controls. EAAT1 and EAAT2 immunoreactivity was well-preserved
in the gray matter in both controls and transgenic mice at all ages, and t
here-was no difference in the expression-of EAAT1 and EAAT2 immunoreactivit
y between controls and transgenic mice. These findings suggest that EAAT1.
and EAAT2 may not play a pivotal role in the degeneration of motoneurons in
this animal model. NeuroReport 12:1359-1362. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams
& Wilkins.