RNAseq of laser captured spinal and oculomotor neurons in post mortem material of ALS patients

Gene expression profiles of specific neuronal populations might explain differential vulnerability to neurodegeneration in the lethal disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Using laser capture microscopy (LCM) and RNA sequencing (LCM-seq), we demonstrate that the molecular signature of degeneration-resistant oculomotor neurons (OMNs) is distinct from that of vulnerable spinal motor neurons (MNs). A total of 14 samples were analyzed. Each sample consists of approximately 120 laser-captured motor neurons from ALS patient post-mortem human tissue. Samples are divided over 2 groups; spinal motor neurons (n=10) and oculomotor neurons (n=4).