Figure 14.

Representative pictures at light microscopy primary motor neuron cultures from spinal cord after autophagy inhibition and stimulation. Immunopositive SMI32 motor neurons were treated with the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) at the doses of 5, 10, and 20 mM. As shown in representative pictures, 3-MA induces a dose-dependent decrease in the number of motor neurons. 3-MA also produces changes in the morphology of surviving motor neurons. Thus, witnessing for an autophagy-dependency of motor neuron survival. This effect is counteracted by the concomitant stimulation of the autophagy pathway by lithium at the dose of 1 mEq/L. These data were reported in graphs plotting the 3-MA-induced reduction in motor neuron number (A, left) and the protective effects of lithium (A, right). Values are the mean ± S.E.M. Comparisons between groups were made by using One-way ANOVA. ^*P ≤ 0.05 compared with other groups in graph; ^**P < 0.05 compared with 3-MA 10, 20 mM, and lithium (A). Scale bars = 91 μm, high magnification: 19 μm.