Real time imaging of intra-axonal calcium flux in an explant mouse model of axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome

The acute motor axonal variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome is associated with the attack of motor axons by anti-ganglioside antibodies which activate complement on the axonal plasma membrane. Animal models have indirectly implicated complement pore-mediated calcium influx as a trigger of axonal damage, through the activation of the protease calpain. However, this calcium influx has never been imaged directly. Herein we describe a method to detect changes in intra-axonal calcium in an ex vivo mouse model of axonal Guillain-Barré syndrome and describe the influence of calcium on axonal injury and the effects of calpain inhibition on axonal outcome.