ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the use of Immunotoxin-Mediated Cell Targeting (IMCT) to eliminate specific neurons from the brain neuronal network, shows that IMCT provides an approach to investigate the physiological and behavioral functions of specific neuronal types and creates experimental models for human neurodegerative disorders. Immunotoxins are conjugates of monoclonal antibodies and toxins that kill animal cells bearing appropriate antigens, and are potential chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disorders. Immunotoxin administration to transgenic mice led to a decrease in the number of cell bodies and axon fibers in A6 neurons as well as in the immunoreactivity against tyrosine hydroxylase, the first enzyme of catecholamine biosynthetic pathway. In addition, by devising the method of the immunotoxin treatment, such as intravenous and intrauterine injection, this technique will be applicable to eliminate specific cell types in the peripheral tissues and in the embryos at various developmental stages.
