Memantine treatment reduces the incidence of flaccid paralysis in a zika virus mouse model of temporary paralysis with similarities to Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Clinical evidence suggests that Zika virus contributes to Guillain-Barré syndrome that causes temporary paralysis. We utilized a recently described Zika virus mouse model of temporary flaccid paralysis to address the hypothesis that treatment with an -methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, memantine, can reduce the incidence of paralysis. Aged interferon alpha/beta-receptor knockout mice were used because of their sublethal susceptibility to Zika virus infection.

Opposing effects of Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 on synaptic stability in the spinal cord after peripheral nerve injury.

Background: Glial cells are involved in the synaptic elimination process that follows neuronal lesions, and are also responsible for mediating the interaction between the nervous and immune systems. Neurons and glial cells express Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which may affect the plasticity of the central nervous system (CNS). Because TLRs might also have non-immune functions in spinal-cord injury (SCI), we aimed to investigate the influence of TLR2 and TLR4 on synaptic plasticity and glial reactivity after peripheral nerve axotomy.