Bregano, Livia Castanhas [UNESP]Agostinho, Sabrina Donatoni [UNESP]Rocatti, F. T. L. B. [UNESP]Pires, Marcilia CristinaRiva, Henrique Guimarães [UNESP]Luvizotto, Maria Cecília Rui [UNESP]Cardoso, Tereza Cristina [UNESP]2016-01-282016-01-282011Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica, v. 49, n. 1, p. 41-48, 2011.0239-8508http://hdl.handle.net/11449/133123In most viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS), the integrity of brain extracelluar matrix (ECM), oxidative stress and dysfunction in neuronal transmission may contribute to the observed pathology. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of these factors in demyelinating canine distemper virus (CDV) infections. Regardless of ECM integrity, the expression of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was visualized in microglial-like cells, whereas the expression of anti-oxidant like-1 (AOP-1) and synaptosomal associated protein (SNAP-25) was frequently detected in Purkinje cells (r2 = 0.989; p < 0.05), regardless of whether the lesions were classified as acute or chronic. Increased numbers of immunolabeled microglia-like cells and reactive gliosis were observed in advanced cases of demyelinating CDV, suggesting that the expression of AOP-1 and SNAP-25 is correlated with the ultimate death of affected cells. Our findings bring a new perspective to understanding the role of the AOP-1, MMP-9 and SNAP-25 proteins in mediating chronic leukoencephalitis caused by CDV. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 41–48)41-48engCDVAntioxidative stressProtein expressionArtigo10.5603/FHC.2011.0007Acesso restrito44575130191313654272904699684196857113005194742511328898194081304584674909952477