Beta-methylamino-alanine (BMAA) injures hippocampal neurons in vivo

Eric J. Buenz; Charles L. Howe

doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2007.02.010

Beta-methylamino-alanine (BMAA) injures hippocampal neurons in vivo

Eric J. Buenz, Charles L. Howe

Neurology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

The unusually high incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinson-dementia complex (ALS/PDC) among the Chamorro people of Guam has fueled an intense search for the etiologic agent responsible for this neurodegenerative disease. Recently, a biomagnification hypothesis was proposed to account for the role of dietary consumption of β-methylamino-alanine (BMAA) in patients with ALS/PDC. However, this hypothesis is hotly debated and a direct association between BMAA and neuronal injury in vivo has been lacking. We provide evidence that introduction of BMAA into the CNS of mice leads to sporadic death of hippocampal neurons, supporting a direct causal link between BMAA and neuronal injury.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	702-704
Number of pages	3
Journal	NeuroToxicology
Volume	28
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2007.02.010
State	Published - May 2007

Keywords

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinson-dementia complex (ALS/PDC)
Biomagnification
Chamorro people
Neurodegeneration
β-Methylamino-alanine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Neuroscience
Toxicology

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10.1016/j.neuro.2007.02.010

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title = "Beta-methylamino-alanine (BMAA) injures hippocampal neurons in vivo",

abstract = "The unusually high incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinson-dementia complex (ALS/PDC) among the Chamorro people of Guam has fueled an intense search for the etiologic agent responsible for this neurodegenerative disease. Recently, a biomagnification hypothesis was proposed to account for the role of dietary consumption of β-methylamino-alanine (BMAA) in patients with ALS/PDC. However, this hypothesis is hotly debated and a direct association between BMAA and neuronal injury in vivo has been lacking. We provide evidence that introduction of BMAA into the CNS of mice leads to sporadic death of hippocampal neurons, supporting a direct causal link between BMAA and neuronal injury.",

keywords = "Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinson-dementia complex (ALS/PDC), Biomagnification, Chamorro people, Neurodegeneration, β-Methylamino-alanine",

author = "Buenz, {Eric J.} and Howe, {Charles L.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Dr. Emanuel Strehler for critically reading the manuscript. This work was supported by grant RG3636 (CLH) from the National MS Society and by Donald and Frances Herdrich (CLH). We would also like to thank Ruth Stricker and Bruce Dayton for their continued guidance and support.",

year = "2007",

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doi = "10.1016/j.neuro.2007.02.010",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "28",

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T1 - Beta-methylamino-alanine (BMAA) injures hippocampal neurons in vivo

AU - Buenz, Eric J.

AU - Howe, Charles L.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Dr. Emanuel Strehler for critically reading the manuscript. This work was supported by grant RG3636 (CLH) from the National MS Society and by Donald and Frances Herdrich (CLH). We would also like to thank Ruth Stricker and Bruce Dayton for their continued guidance and support.

PY - 2007/5

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N2 - The unusually high incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinson-dementia complex (ALS/PDC) among the Chamorro people of Guam has fueled an intense search for the etiologic agent responsible for this neurodegenerative disease. Recently, a biomagnification hypothesis was proposed to account for the role of dietary consumption of β-methylamino-alanine (BMAA) in patients with ALS/PDC. However, this hypothesis is hotly debated and a direct association between BMAA and neuronal injury in vivo has been lacking. We provide evidence that introduction of BMAA into the CNS of mice leads to sporadic death of hippocampal neurons, supporting a direct causal link between BMAA and neuronal injury.

AB - The unusually high incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinson-dementia complex (ALS/PDC) among the Chamorro people of Guam has fueled an intense search for the etiologic agent responsible for this neurodegenerative disease. Recently, a biomagnification hypothesis was proposed to account for the role of dietary consumption of β-methylamino-alanine (BMAA) in patients with ALS/PDC. However, this hypothesis is hotly debated and a direct association between BMAA and neuronal injury in vivo has been lacking. We provide evidence that introduction of BMAA into the CNS of mice leads to sporadic death of hippocampal neurons, supporting a direct causal link between BMAA and neuronal injury.

KW - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinson-dementia complex (ALS/PDC)

KW - Biomagnification

KW - Chamorro people

KW - Neurodegeneration

KW - β-Methylamino-alanine

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Beta-methylamino-alanine (BMAA) injures hippocampal neurons in vivo

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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