1
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Brown RE. Measuring the replicability of our own research. J Neurosci Methods 2024; 406:110111. [PMID: 38521128 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2024.110111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
In the study of transgenic mouse models of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, we use batteries of tests to measure deficits in behaviour and from the results of these tests, we make inferences about the mental states of the mice that we interpret as deficits in "learning", "memory", "anxiety", "depression", etc. This paper discusses the problems of determining whether a particular transgenic mouse is a valid mouse model of disease X, the problem of background strains, and the question of whether our behavioural tests are measuring what we say they are. The problem of the reliability of results is then discussed: are they replicable between labs and can we replicate our results in our own lab? This involves the study of intra- and inter- experimenter reliability. The variables that influence replicability and the importance of conducting a complete behavioural phenotype: sensory, motor, cognitive and social emotional behaviour are discussed. Then the thorny question of failure to replicate is examined: Is it a curse or a blessing? Finally, the role of failure in research and what it tells us about our research paradigms is examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard E Brown
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
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2
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O'Leary TP, Brown RE. Age-related changes in species-typical behaviours in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease from 4 to 16 months of age. Behav Brain Res 2024; 465:114970. [PMID: 38531510 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients show age-related decreases in the ability to perform activities of daily living and the decline in these activities is related to the severity of neurobiological deterioration underlying the disease. The 5xFAD mouse model of AD shows age-related impairments in sensory- motor and cognitive function, but little is known about changes in species-typical behaviours that may model activities of daily living in AD patients. Therefore, we examined species-typical behaviours used as indices of exploration (rearing) and compulsivity (grooming) across six tests of anxiety-like behaviour or motor function in female 5xFAD mice from 3 to 16 months of age. Robust decreases in rearing were found in 5xFAD mice across all tests after 9 months of age, although few differences were observed in grooming. A fine-scale analysis of grooming, however, revealed a previously unresolved and spatially restricted pattern of grooming in 5xFAD mice at 13-16 months of age. We then examined changes in species-typical behaviours in the home-cage, and show impaired nest building in 5xFAD mice at all ages tested. Lastly, we examined the relationship between reduced species typical behaviours in 5xFAD mice and the presentation of freezing behaviour, a commonly used measure of memory for conditioned fear. These results showed that along with cognitive and sensory-motor behaviour, 5xFAD mice have robust age-related impairments in species-typical behaviours. Therefore, species typical behaviours in 5xFAD mice may help to model the decline in activities of daily living observed in AD patients, and may provide useful behavioural phenotypes for evaluating the pre-clinical efficacy of novel therapeutics for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy P O'Leary
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Richard E Brown
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
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3
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Chockanathan U, Padmanabhan K. Differential disruptions in population coding along the dorsal-ventral axis of CA1 in the APP/PS1 mouse model of Aβ pathology. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1012085. [PMID: 38709845 PMCID: PMC11098488 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized by a range of behavioral alterations, including memory loss and psychiatric symptoms. While there is evidence that molecular pathologies, such as amyloid beta (Aβ), contribute to AD, it remains unclear how this histopathology gives rise to such disparate behavioral deficits. One hypothesis is that Aβ exerts differential effects on neuronal circuits across brain regions, depending on the neurophysiology and connectivity of different areas. To test this, we recorded from large neuronal populations in dorsal CA1 (dCA1) and ventral CA1 (vCA1), two hippocampal areas known to be structurally and functionally diverse, in the APP/PS1 mouse model of amyloidosis. Despite similar levels of Aβ pathology, dCA1 and vCA1 showed distinct disruptions in neuronal population activity as animals navigated a virtual reality environment. In dCA1, pairwise correlations and entropy, a measure of the diversity of activity patterns, were decreased in APP/PS1 mice relative to age-matched C57BL/6 controls. However, in vCA1, APP/PS1 mice had increased pair-wise correlations and entropy as compared to age matched controls. Finally, using maximum entropy models, we connected the microscopic features of population activity (correlations) to the macroscopic features of the population code (entropy). We found that the models' performance increased in predicting dCA1 activity, but decreased in predicting vCA1 activity, in APP/PS1 mice relative to the controls. Taken together, we found that Aβ exerts distinct effects across different hippocampal regions, suggesting that the various behavioral deficits of AD may reflect underlying heterogeneities in neuronal circuits and the different disruptions that Aβ pathology causes in those circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udaysankar Chockanathan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Krishnan Padmanabhan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Center for Visual Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
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4
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Latina V, De Introna M, Caligiuri C, Loviglio A, Florio R, La Regina F, Pignataro A, Ammassari-Teule M, Calissano P, Amadoro G. Immunotherapy with Cleavage-Specific 12A12mAb Reduces the Tau Cleavage in Visual Cortex and Improves Visuo-Spatial Recognition Memory in Tg2576 AD Mouse Model. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020509. [PMID: 36839831 PMCID: PMC9965010 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau-targeted immunotherapy is a promising approach for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Beyond cognitive decline, AD features visual deficits consistent with the manifestation of Amyloid β-protein (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in the eyes and higher visual centers, both in animal models and affected subjects. We reported that 12A12-a monoclonal cleavage-specific antibody (mAb) which in vivo neutralizes the neurotoxic, N-terminal 20-22 kDa tau fragment(s)-significantly reduces the retinal accumulation in Tg(HuAPP695Swe)2576 mice of both tau and APP/Aβ pathologies correlated with local inflammation and synaptic deterioration. Here, we report the occurrence of N-terminal tau cleavage in the primary visual cortex (V1 area) and the beneficial effect of 12A12mAb treatment on phenotype-associated visuo-spatial deficits in this AD animal model. We found out that non-invasive administration of 12 A12mAb markedly reduced the pathological accumulation of both truncated tau and Aβ in the V1 area, correlated to significant improvement in visual recognition memory performance along with local increase in two direct readouts of cortical synaptic plasticity, including the dendritic spine density and the expression level of activity-regulated cytoskeleton protein Arc/Arg3.1. Translation of these findings to clinical therapeutic interventions could offer an innovative tau-directed opportunity to delay or halt the visual impairments occurring during AD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Latina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Margherita De Introna
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Caligiuri
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Loviglio
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Florio
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Federico La Regina
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Annabella Pignataro
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Martine Ammassari-Teule
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation (FSL), Centro di Ricerca Europeo sul Cervello (CERC), Via Fosso del Fiorano 64-65, 00143 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council (CNR), Via Ercole Ramarini 32, 00015 Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Calissano
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Amadoro
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-49255252
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5
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Stevanovic KD, Fry SA, DeFilipp JMS, Wu N, Bernstein BJ, Cushman JD. Assessing the importance of sex in a hippocampus-dependent behavioral test battery in C57BL/6NTac mice. LEARNING & MEMORY (COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y.) 2022; 29:203-215. [PMID: 35882502 PMCID: PMC9374270 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053599.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Inclusion of male and female subjects in behavioral neuroscience research requires a concerted effort to characterize sex differences in standardized behavioral assays. Sex differences in hippocampus-dependent assays have been widely reported but are still poorly characterized. In the present study, we conducted a parametric analysis of spontaneous alternation, object recognition, and fear conditioning in a commonly used control strain, C57BL/6NTac. Our findings show largely similar performance between males and females across the majority of behavioral end points. However, we identified an important difference in nonassociative fear sensitization, whereby females showed an enhanced fear response to the 75-dB tone that is used as the conditional stimulus. In addition, we observed an impairment in object location performance in females that was ameliorated by more extensive habituation to handling. Together, these findings argue that sex differences in nonassociative fear responses to both novel auditory cues and novel objects need to be considered when designing and interpreting cognitive assays in C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, this elevated fear sensitization could serve as a novel approach to model the increased incidence of anxiety disorders in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korey D Stevanovic
- Neurobehavioral Core Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Sydney A Fry
- Neurobehavioral Core Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Jemma M S DeFilipp
- Neurobehavioral Core Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Nicholas Wu
- University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Briana J Bernstein
- Neurobehavioral Core Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Jesse D Cushman
- Neurobehavioral Core Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, North Carolina 27709, USA
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6
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Curdt N, Schmitt FW, Bouter C, Iseni T, Weile HC, Altunok B, Beindorff N, Bayer TA, Cooke MB, Bouter Y. Search strategy analysis of Tg4-42 Alzheimer Mice in the Morris Water Maze reveals early spatial navigation deficits. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5451. [PMID: 35361814 PMCID: PMC8971530 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09270-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial disorientation is one of the earliest symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease and allocentric deficits can already be detected in the asymptomatic preclinical stages of the disease. The Morris Water Maze (MWM) is used to study spatial learning in rodent models. Here we investigated the spatial memory of female 3, 7 and 12 month-old Alzheimer Tg4-42 mice in comparison to wild-type control animals. Conventional behavior analysis of escape latencies and quadrant preference revealed spatial memory and reference memory deficits in female 7 and 12 month-old Tg4-42 mice. In contrast, conventional analysis of the MWM indicated an intact spatial memory in 3 month-old Tg4-42 mice. However, a detailed analysis of the swimming strategies demonstrated allocentric-specific memory deficits in 3 month-old Tg4-42 mice before the onset of severe memory deficits. Furthermore, we could show that the spatial reference memory deficits in aged Tg4-42 animals are caused by the lack of allocentric and spatial strategies. Analyzing search strategies in the MWM allows to differentiate between hippocampus-dependent allocentric and hippocampus-independent egocentric search strategies. The spatial navigation impairments in young Tg4-42 mice are well in line with the hypometabolism and synaptic deficits in the hippocampus. Therefore, analyzing search strategies in the Tg4-42 model can be a powerful tool for preclinical drug testing and identifying early therapeutic successes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Curdt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Georg-August-University Göttingen, University Medicine Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Franziska W Schmitt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Georg-August-University Göttingen, University Medicine Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Caroline Bouter
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG), Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Trendelina Iseni
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Georg-August-University Göttingen, University Medicine Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hanna C Weile
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Georg-August-University Göttingen, University Medicine Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Berfin Altunok
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Georg-August-University Göttingen, University Medicine Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nicola Beindorff
- Berlin Experimental Radionuclide Imaging Center (BERIC), Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas A Bayer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Georg-August-University Göttingen, University Medicine Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthew B Cooke
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Yvonne Bouter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Georg-August-University Göttingen, University Medicine Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
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7
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Shepherd A, Zhang T, Hoffmann LB, Zeleznikow-Johnston AM, Churilov L, Hannan AJ, Burrows EL. A Preclinical Model of Computerized Cognitive Training: Touchscreen Cognitive Testing Enhances Cognition and Hippocampal Cellular Plasticity in Wildtype and Alzheimer's Disease Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:766745. [PMID: 34938165 PMCID: PMC8685297 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.766745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
With the growing popularity of touchscreen cognitive testing in rodents, it is imperative to understand the fundamental effects exposure to this paradigm can have on the animals involved. In this study, we set out to assess hippocampal-dependant learning in the APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) on two highly translatable touchscreen tasks – the Paired Associate Learning (PAL) task and the Trial Unique Non-Matching to Location (TUNL) task. Both of these tests are based on human tasks from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and are sensitive to deficits in both mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD. Mice were assessed for deficits in PAL at 9–12 months of age, then on TUNL at 8–11 and 13–16 months. No cognitive deficits were evident in APP/PS1 mice at any age, contrary to previous reports using maze-based learning and memory tasks. We hypothesized that daily and long-term touchscreen training may have inadvertently acted as a cognitive enhancer. When touchscreen-tested mice were assessed on the Morris water maze, they showed improved task acquisition compared to naïve APP/PS1 mice and wild-type (WT) littermate controls. In addition, we show that touchscreen-trained WT and APP/PS1 mice show increased cell proliferation and immature neuron numbers in the dentate gyrus compared to behaviorally naïve WT and APP/PS1 mice. This result indicates that the touchscreen testing paradigm could improve cognitive performance, and/or mask an impairment, in experimental mouse models. This touchscreen-induced cognitive enhancement may involve increased neurogenesis, and possibly other forms of cellular plasticity. This is the first study to show increased numbers of proliferating cells and immature neurons in the hippocampus following touchscreen testing, and that touchscreen training can improve cognitive performance in maze-based spatial navigation tasks. This potential for touchscreen testing to induce cognitive enhancement, or other phenotypic shifts, in preclinical models should be considered in study design. Furthermore, touchscreen-mediated cognitive enhancement could have therapeutic implications for cognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Shepherd
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Tracy Zhang
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Lucas B Hoffmann
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ariel M Zeleznikow-Johnston
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Leonid Churilov
- Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Emma L Burrows
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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8
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Fertan E, Wong AA, Purdon MK, Weaver ICG, Brown RE. The effect of background strain on the behavioral phenotypes of the MDGA2 +/- mouse model of autism spectrum disorder. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 20:e12696. [PMID: 32808443 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The membrane-associated mucin (MAM) domain containing glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor 2 protein single knock-out mice (MDGA2+/- ) are models of ASD. We examined the behavioral phenotypes of male and female MDGA2+/- and wildtype mice on C57BL6/NJ and C57BL6/N backgrounds at 2 months of age and measured MDGA2, neuroligin 1 and neuroligin 2 levels at 7 months. Mice on the C57BL6/NJ background performed better than those on the C57BL6/N background in visual ability and in learning and memory performance in the Morris water maze and differed in measures of motor behavior and anxiety. Mice with the MDGA2+/- genotype differed from WT mice in motor, social and repetitive behavior and anxiety, but most of these effects involved interactions between MDGA2+/- genotype and background strain. The background strain also influenced MDGA2 levels and NLGN2 association in MDGA2+/- mice. Our findings emphasize the importance of the background strain used in studies of genetically modified mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Fertan
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Aimée A Wong
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Michaela K Purdon
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Ian C G Weaver
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Brain Repair Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Richard E Brown
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Brain Repair Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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9
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Liu H, Stover KR, Sivanenthiran N, Chow J, Cheng C, Liu Y, Lim S, Wu C, Weaver DF, Eubanks JH, Song H, Zhang L. Impaired Spatial Learning and Memory in Middle-Aged Mice with Kindling-Induced Spontaneous Recurrent Seizures. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:1077. [PMID: 31611787 PMCID: PMC6768971 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy is the most common and often drug-resistant type of epilepsy in the adult and aging populations and has great diversity in etiology, electro-clinical manifestations, and comorbidities. Kindling through repeated brief stimulation of limbic structures is a commonly used model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Particularly, extended kindling can induce spontaneous recurrent seizures in several animal species. However, kindling studies in middle-aged, aging, or aged animals remain scarce, and currently, little is known about kindling-induced behavioral changes in middle-aged/aging animals. We therefore attempted to provide more information in this area using a mouse model of extended hippocampal kindling. We conducted experiments in middle-aged mice (C57BL/6, male, 12-14 months of age) to model new-onset epilepsy in adult/aging populations. Mice experienced twice daily hippocampal stimulations or handling manipulations for 60-70 days and then underwent continuous electroencephalogram (EEG)-video monitoring to detect spontaneous recurrent seizures. Extended kindled mice consistently exhibited spontaneous recurrent seizures with mean incidences of 6-7 events per day, and these seizures featured EEG discharges and corresponding convulsions. The handling control mice showed neither seizure nor aberrant EEG activity. The two groups of mice underwent the Morris water maze test of spatial learning and memory 1-2 weeks after termination of the kindling stimulation or handling manipulation. During visible platform trials, the kindled mice took a longer distance and required more time than the control mice to find the platform. During hidden platform trials, the kindled mice showed no improvement over 5-day trials in finding the platform whereas the control mice improved significantly. During probe tests in which the hidden platform was removed, the kindled mice spent less time than the controls searching in the correct platform location. There were no significant differences between the kindled and control mice with respect to swim speed or total locomotor activity in an open-field test. Together, these observations indicate that the extended kindled mice with spontaneous recurrent seizures are impaired in spatial learning and memory as assessed by the Morris water maze test. We postulate that the extended hippocampal kindling in middle-aged mice may help explore epileptogenic mechanisms and comorbidities potentially relevant to new-onset temporal lobe epilepsy in adult and aging patients. Limitations and confounds of our present experiments are discussed to improve future examinations of epileptic comorbidities in extended kindled mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyu Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China.,Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kurt R Stover
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nila Sivanenthiran
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jonathan Chow
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chloe Cheng
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yapeng Liu
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stellar Lim
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chiping Wu
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Donald F Weaver
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James H Eubanks
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hongmei Song
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin, China.,Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Liang Zhang
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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10
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Shepherd A, May C, Churilov L, Adlard PA, Hannan AJ, Burrows EL. Evaluation of attention in APP/PS1 mice shows impulsive and compulsive behaviours. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 20:e12594. [PMID: 31177612 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
While Alzheimer's disease (AD) is traditionally associated with deficits in episodic memory, early changes in other cognitive domains, such as attention, have been gaining interest. In line with clinical observations, some animal models of AD have been shown to develop attentional deficits, but this is not consistent across all models. The APPswe/PS1ΔE9 (APP/PS1) mouse is one of the most commonly used AD models and attention has not yet been scrutinised in this model. We set out to assess attention using the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5CSRTT) early in the progression of cognitive symptoms in APP/PS1 mice, using clinically translatable touchscreen chambers. APP/PS1 mice showed no attentional changes across 5CSRTT training or any probes from 9 to 11 months of age. Interestingly, APP/PS1 mice showed increased impulsive and compulsive responding when task difficulty was high. This suggests that while the APP/PS1 mouse model may not be a good model of attentional changes in AD, it may be useful to study the early changes in impulsive and compulsive behaviour that have been identified in patient studies. As these changes have not previously been reported without attentional deficits in the clinic, the APP/PS1 mouse model may provide a unique opportunity to study these specific behavioural changes seen in AD, including their mechanistic underpinnings and therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Shepherd
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Kenneth Myer Building, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Carlos May
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Kenneth Myer Building, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leonid Churilov
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul A Adlard
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Kenneth Myer Building, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Kenneth Myer Building, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emma L Burrows
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Kenneth Myer Building, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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11
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Zhang W, Guo Y, Li B, Zhang Q, Liu JH, Gu GJ, Wang JH, Bao RK, Chen YJ, Xu JR. GDF11 Rejuvenates Cerebrovascular Structure and Function in an Animal Model of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 62:807-819. [PMID: 29480172 DOI: 10.3233/jad-170474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is present in up to 90% of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and may interact with classical neuropathology to exacerbate cognitive decline. Since growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) can activate vascular remodeling, we tested its effects on cognitive function and neuroinflammatory changes of AD model mice. We intravenously administered GDF11 or vehicle daily to 12-month-old transgenic mice overexpressing the amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP)/PS1). Cognitive function was monitored using the Morris water maze, and after conclusion of the treatment, we assessed the morphology and presence of inflammatory markers in the cerebral vasculature. Subchronic treatment of adult AβPP/PS1 mice with GDF11 rescued cognitive function and ameliorated cerebrovascular function. In particular, the de novo genesis of small blood vessels and the expression of vascular-related proteins were significantly higher than in the vehicle-treated AβPP/PS1 mice, whereas the expressions of the inflammatory markers Iba-1 and GFAP significantly decreased in proportion to the lower ratio of two forms of amyloid-β (Aβ40/42). Daily intravenous treatment with GDF11-injection can rejuvenate respects of cognition and cerebrovascular changes in AD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, Renji Hospital, Medical School of Jiaotong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yi Guo
- Department of Medical Imaging, Tongji Hospital, Medical School of Tongji University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Medical Imaging, Renji Hospital, Medical School of Jiaotong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Jian-Hui Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Medical School of Tongji University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Guo-Jun Gu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Tongji Hospital, Medical School of Tongji University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Jin-Hong Wang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Medical School of Jiaotong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Rui-Kang Bao
- Department of Radiotherapy, Suzhou municipal hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Jie Chen
- Uli Schwarz Public Central Lab, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology (PICB), Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Jian-Rong Xu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Renji Hospital, Medical School of Jiaotong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
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12
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King JL, Wong AA, Brown RE. Age-Related Changes in the Spatial Frequency Threshold of Male and Female 3xTg-AD Mice Using OptoMotry. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 62:591-596. [PMID: 29480178 DOI: 10.3233/jad-170805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Visual impairments and retinal abnormalities occur in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in mouse models of AD. It is important to know the visual ability of mouse models of AD to ensure that age-related cognitive deficits are not confounded by visual impairments. Using OptoMotry, the spatial frequency thresholds of male and female 3xTg-AD mice did not differ from their B6129SF2 wildtype controls between 1-18 months of age, but females had higher spatial frequency thresholds than males. However, the differences were quite small, and the visual ability of all mice was comparable to that of C57BL/6 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian L King
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Aimée A Wong
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Richard E Brown
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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13
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Yang Y, Wang M, Yang P, Wang Z, Huang L, Xu J, Wang W, Yu M, Bu L, Fei J, Huang F. The Aβ Containing Brain Extracts Having Different Effects in Alzheimer's Disease Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans and Mice. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:208. [PMID: 30108498 PMCID: PMC6079246 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The deposition of β-sheet rich amyloid in senile plaques is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is thought to cause neuronal dysfunction. Previous studies have strongly implicated that intracerebral infusion of brain extract containing aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ) is able to induce cerebral amyloidosis thus causing neuronal damage and clinical abnormalities in rodents and nonhuman primates, which are reminiscent of a prion-like mechanism. Prion disease has been documented in cases of prion-contaminated food consumption. Methods: We investigated whether cerebral transmission of Aβ was possible via oral administration of Aβ-rich brain extract in non-susceptible and susceptible host mice by immunohistochemistry, western blotting and behavior tests. Also brain extracts were supplied to AD transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans, and paralysis curve were conducted, following detection of Aβ amyloid. RNA sequencing of nematodes was applied then inhibitors for relevant dysregulated genes were used in the paralysis induction. Results: The oral treatment of AD brain extract or normal brain extract neither aggravated nor mitigated the Aβ load, glial activation or the abnormal behaviors in recipient Amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) mice. Whereas, a significant improvement of AD pathology was detected in worms treated with Aβ-rich or normal brain extracts, which was attributable to the heat-sensitive components of brain extracts. Transcriptome sequencing of CL4176 nematodes suggested that brain extracts could delay worm paralysis through multiple pathways, including ubiquitin mediated proteolysis and Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway. Inhibitors of the ubiquitin proteasome system and the TGF-β signaling pathway significantly blocked the suppressive effects of brain extracts on worm paralysis. Conclusions: Our results suggest that systemic transmissible mechanisms of prion proteopathy may not apply to β amyloid, at least in terms of oral administration. However, brain extracts strongly ameliorated AD pathology in AD transgenic nematodes partially through TGF-β signaling pathway and ubiquitin mediated proteolysis, which indicated that some natural endogenous components in the mammalian tissues could resist Aβ toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufang Yang
- Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mo Wang
- Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Yang
- Biomodel Shanghai Research Center for Model Organisms, Shanghai, China
| | - Zishan Wang
- Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Huang
- Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Xu
- School of Life Science and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mei Yu
- Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liping Bu
- Department of Cardiology and Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Fei
- School of Life Science and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Huang
- Jing'an District Centre Hospital of Shanghai, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Translational Neuroscience, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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14
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O'Leary TP, Hussin AT, Gunn RK, Brown RE. Locomotor activity, emotionality, sensori-motor gating, learning and memory in the APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Res Bull 2018; 140:347-354. [PMID: 29870778 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2018.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse (line 85) is a double transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with familial amyloid precursor protein and presenilin-1 mutations. These mice develop age-related behavioral changes reflective of the neuropsychiatric symptoms (altered anxiety-like behaviour, hyperactivity) and cognitive dysfunction (impaired learning and memory) observed in AD. The APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse has been used to examine the efficacy of therapeutic interventions on behaviour, despite previous difficulties in replicating behavioural phenotypes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to establish the reliability of these phenotypes by further characterizing the behaviour of male APPswe/PS1dE9 and wild-type mice between 7 and 14 months of age. Mice were tested on the open-field over 5-days to examine emotionality, locomotor activity and inter-session habituation. Mice were also tested on the repeated-reversal water maze task and spontaneous alternation on the Y-maze to assess working memory. Sensori-motor gating was examined with acoustic startle and pre-pulse inhibition. Lastly contextual and cued (trace) memory was assessed with fear conditioning. The results show that among non-cognitive behaviours, APPswe/PS1dE9 mice have normal locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, habituation and sensori-motor gating. However, APPswe/PS1dE9 mice show impaired working memory on the repeated-reversal water-maze and impaired memory in contextual but not trace-cued fear conditioning. These results indicate that the APPswe/PS1dE9 (line 85) mice have deficits in some types of hippocampal-dependent learning and memory and, at the ages tested, APPswe/PS1dE9 mice model cognitive dysfunction but not neuropsychiatric symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy P O'Leary
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Ahmed T Hussin
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Rhian K Gunn
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Richard E Brown
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada.
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15
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Rudobeck E, Bellone JA, Szücs A, Bonnick K, Mehrotra-Carter S, Badaut J, Nelson GA, Hartman RE, Vlkolinský R. Low-dose proton radiation effects in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease - Implications for space travel. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186168. [PMID: 29186131 PMCID: PMC5706673 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Space radiation represents a significant health risk for astronauts. Ground-based animal studies indicate that space radiation affects neuronal functions such as excitability, synaptic transmission, and plasticity, and it may accelerate the onset of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although protons represent the main constituent in the space radiation spectrum, their effects on AD-related pathology have not been tested. We irradiated 3 month-old APP/PSEN1 transgenic (TG) and wild type (WT) mice with protons (150 MeV; 0.1–1.0 Gy; whole body) and evaluated functional and biochemical hallmarks of AD. We performed behavioral tests in the water maze (WM) before irradiation and in the WM and Barnes maze at 3 and 6 months post-irradiation to evaluate spatial learning and memory. We also performed electrophysiological recordings in vitro in hippocampal slices prepared 6 and 9 months post-irradiation to evaluate excitatory synaptic transmission and plasticity. Next, we evaluated amyloid β (Aβ) deposition in the contralateral hippocampus and adjacent cortex using immunohistochemistry. In cortical homogenates, we analyzed the levels of the presynaptic marker synaptophysin by Western blotting and measured pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, CXCL10 and CCL2) by bead-based multiplex assay. TG mice performed significantly worse than WT mice in the WM. Irradiation of TG mice did not affect their behavioral performance, but reduced the amplitudes of population spikes and inhibited paired-pulse facilitation in CA1 neurons. These electrophysiological alterations in the TG mice were qualitatively different from those observed in WT mice, in which irradiation increased excitability and synaptic efficacy. Irradiation increased Aβ deposition in the cortex of TG mice without affecting cytokine levels and increased synaptophysin expression in WT mice (but not in the TG mice). Although irradiation with protons increased Aβ deposition, the complex functional and biochemical results indicate that irradiation effects are not synergistic to AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil Rudobeck
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - John A. Bellone
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - Attila Szücs
- BioCircuits Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Kristine Bonnick
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - Shalini Mehrotra-Carter
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - Jerome Badaut
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - Gregory A. Nelson
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - Richard E. Hartman
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioral Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
| | - Roman Vlkolinský
- Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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16
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Leinonen H, Tanila H. Vision in laboratory rodents-Tools to measure it and implications for behavioral research. Behav Brain Res 2017; 352:172-182. [PMID: 28760697 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.07.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Mice and rats are nocturnal mammals and their vision is specialized for detection of motion and contrast in dim light conditions. These species possess a large proportion of UV-sensitive cones in their retinas and the majority of their optic nerve axons target superior colliculus rather than visual cortex. Therefore, it was a widely held belief that laboratory rodents hardly utilize vision during day-time behavior. This dogma is being questioned as accumulating evidence suggests that laboratory rodents are able to perform complex visual functions, such as perceiving subjective contours, and that declined vision may affect their performance in many behavioral tasks. For instance, genetic engineering may have unexpected consequences on vision as mouse models of Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases have declined visual function. Rodent vision can be tested in numerous ways using operant training or reflex-based behavioral tasks, or alternatively using electrophysiological recordings. In this article, we will first provide a summary of visual system and explain its characteristics unique to rodents. Then, we present well-established techniques to test rodent vision, with an emphasis on pattern vision: visual water test, optomotor reflex test, pattern electroretinography and pattern visual evoked potentials. Finally, we highlight the importance of visual phenotyping in rodents. As the number of genetically engineered rodent models and volume of behavioral testing increase simultaneously, the possibility of visual dysfunctions needs to be addressed. Neglect in this matter potentially leads to crude biases in the field of neuroscience and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henri Leinonen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Heikki Tanila
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Neulaniementie 2, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
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17
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Leinonen H, Lipponen A, Gurevicius K, Tanila H. Normal Amplitude of Electroretinography and Visual Evoked Potential Responses in AβPP/PS1 Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 51:21-6. [PMID: 26836173 DOI: 10.3233/jad-150798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease has been shown to affect vision in human patients and animal models. This may pose the risk of bias in behavior studies and therefore requires comprehensive investigation. We recorded electroretinography (ERG) under isoflurane anesthesia and visual evoked potentials (VEP) in awake amyloid expressing AβPPswe/PS1dE9 (AβPP/PS1) and wild-type littermate mice at a symptomatic age. The VEPs in response to patterned stimuli were normal in AβPP/PS1 mice. They also showed normal ERG amplitude but slightly shortened ERG latency in dark-adapted conditions. Our results indicate subtle changes in visual processing in aged male AβPP/PS1 mice specifically at a retinal level.
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18
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Translational Assays for Assessment of Cognition in Rodent Models of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. J Mol Neurosci 2016; 60:371-382. [DOI: 10.1007/s12031-016-0837-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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19
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Li L, Luo J, Chen D, Tong JB, Zeng LP, Cao YQ, Xiang J, Luo XG, Shi JM, Wang H, Huang JF. BACE1 in the retina: a sensitive biomarker for monitoring early pathological changes in Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2016; 11:447-53. [PMID: 27127484 PMCID: PMC4829010 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.179057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of a lack of sensitive biomarkers, the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) cannot be made prior to symptom manifestation. Therefore, it is crucial to identify novel biomarkers for the presymptomatic diagnosis of AD. While brain lesions are a major feature of AD, retinal pathological changes also occur in patients. In this study, we investigated the temporal changes in β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) expression in the retina and brain to determine whether it could serve as a suitable biomarker for early monitoring of AD. APP/PS-1 transgenic mice, 3, 6 and 8 months of age, were used as an experimental group, and age-matched C57/BL6 wild-type mice served as the control group. In the Morris water maze test, there were no significant differences in escape latency or in the number of crossings in the target area among mice of different ages. Compared with wild-type mice, no changes in learning or memory abilities were detected in transgenic mice at 3 months of age. However, compared with wild-type mice, the escape latency was significantly increased in transgenic mice at 6 months, starting on day 3, and at 8 months, starting on day 2, during Morris water maze training. In addition, the number of crossings of the target area was significantly decreased in transgenic mice. The learning and memory abilities of transgenic mice were further worsened at 8 months of age. Immunohistochemical staining revealed no BACE1 plaques in wild-type mice at 3, 6 or 8 months or in transgenic mice at 3 months, but they were clearly found in the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of transgenic mice at 6 and 8 months. BACE1 expression was not detected in the retina of wild-type mice at 3 months, but weak BACE1 expression was detected in the ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer and outer plexiform layer at 6 and 8 months. In transgenic mice, BACE1 expression in the ganglion cell layer was increased at 3 months, and BACE1 expression in the ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer and outer plexiform layer was significantly increased at 6 and 8 months, compared with age-matched wild-type mice. Taken together, these results indicate that changes in BACE1 expression appear earlier in the retina than in the brain and precede behavioral deficits. Our findings suggest that abnormal expression of BACE1 in the retina is an early pathological change in APP/PS-1 transgenic mice, and that BACE1 might have potential as a biomarker for the early diagnosis of AD in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Li
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jia Luo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Dan Chen
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jian-Bin Tong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Le-Ping Zeng
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yan-Qun Cao
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jian Xiang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Xue-Gang Luo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jing-Ming Shi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Ju-Fang Huang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
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20
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Abstract
The complement system is part of the innate immune response responsible for removing pathogens and cellular debris, in addition to helping to refine CNS neuronal connections via microglia-mediated pruning of inappropriate synapses during brain development. However, less is known about the role of complement during normal aging. Here, we studied the role of the central complement component, C3, in synaptic health and aging. We examined behavior as well as electrophysiological, synaptic, and neuronal changes in the brains of C3-deficient male mice (C3 KO) compared with age-, strain-, and gender-matched C57BL/6J (wild-type, WT) control mice at postnatal day 30, 4 months, and 16 months of age. We found the following: (1) region-specific and age-dependent synapse loss in aged WT mice that was not observed in C3 KO mice; (2) age-dependent neuron loss in hippocampal CA3 (but not in CA1) that followed synapse loss in aged WT mice, neither of which were observed in aged C3 KO mice; and (3) significantly enhanced LTP and cognition and less anxiety in aged C3 KO mice compared with aged WT mice. Importantly, CA3 synaptic puncta were similar between WT and C3 KO mice at P30. Together, our results suggest a novel and prominent role for complement protein C3 in mediating aged-related and region-specific changes in synaptic function and plasticity in the aging brain. Significance statement: The complement cascade, part of the innate immune response to remove pathogens, also plays a role in synaptic refinement during brain development by the removal of weak synapses. We investigated whether complement C3, a central component, affects synapse loss during aging. Wild-type (WT) and C3 knock-out (C3 KO) mice were examined at different ages. The mice were similar at 1 month of age. However, with aging, WT mice lost synapses in specific brain regions, especially in hippocampus, an area important for memory, whereas C3 KO mice were protected. Aged C3 KO mice also performed better on learning and memory tests than aged WT mice. Our results suggest that complement C3, or its downstream signaling, is detrimental to synapses during aging.
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21
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Nesterova AA, Ermilov VV. Is age-related macular degeneration a manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease? ADVANCES IN GERONTOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.1134/s2079057015030108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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22
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Strain-dependent effects on acquisition and reversal of visual and spatial tasks in a rat touchscreen battery of cognition. Physiol Behav 2015; 144:26-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Revised: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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23
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Roddick KM, Schellinck HM, Brown RE. Olfactory delayed matching to sample performance in mice: Sex differences in the 5XFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Behav Brain Res 2014; 270:165-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2014.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Revised: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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24
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Bouter Y, Kacprowski T, Weissmann R, Dietrich K, Borgers H, Brauß A, Sperling C, Wirths O, Albrecht M, Jensen LR, Kuss AW, Bayer TA. Deciphering the molecular profile of plaques, memory decline and neuron loss in two mouse models for Alzheimer's disease by deep sequencing. Front Aging Neurosci 2014; 6:75. [PMID: 24795628 PMCID: PMC3997018 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the central research questions on the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the elucidation of the molecular signatures triggered by the amyloid cascade of pathological events. Next-generation sequencing allows the identification of genes involved in disease processes in an unbiased manner. We have combined this technique with the analysis of two AD mouse models: (1) The 5XFAD model develops early plaque formation, intraneuronal Aβ aggregation, neuron loss, and behavioral deficits. (2) The Tg4–42 model expresses N-truncated Aβ4–42 and develops neuron loss and behavioral deficits albeit without plaque formation. Our results show that learning and memory deficits in the Morris water maze and fear conditioning tasks in Tg4–42 mice at 12 months of age are similar to the deficits in 5XFAD animals. This suggested that comparative gene expression analysis between the models would allow the dissection of plaque-related and -unrelated disease relevant factors. Using deep sequencing differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and subsequently verified by quantitative PCR. Nineteen DEGs were identified in pre-symptomatic young 5XFAD mice, and none in young Tg4–42 mice. In the aged cohort, 131 DEGs were found in 5XFAD and 56 DEGs in Tg4–42 mice. Many of the DEGs specific to the 5XFAD model belong to neuroinflammatory processes typically associated with plaques. Interestingly, 36 DEGs were identified in both mouse models indicating common disease pathways associated with behavioral deficits and neuron loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Bouter
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Georg-August-University Goettingen, University Medicine Goettingen , Goettingen , Germany
| | - Tim Kacprowski
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biometrics and Medical Informatics, University Medicine Greifswald , Greifswald , Germany ; Department of Functional Genomics, Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald , Greifswald , Germany
| | - Robert Weissmann
- Human Molecular Genetics, Department for Human Genetics of the Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Institute for Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University Greifswald , Greifswald , Germany
| | - Katharina Dietrich
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Georg-August-University Goettingen, University Medicine Goettingen , Goettingen , Germany
| | - Henning Borgers
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Georg-August-University Goettingen, University Medicine Goettingen , Goettingen , Germany
| | - Andreas Brauß
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Georg-August-University Goettingen, University Medicine Goettingen , Goettingen , Germany
| | - Christian Sperling
- Human Molecular Genetics, Department for Human Genetics of the Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Institute for Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University Greifswald , Greifswald , Germany
| | - Oliver Wirths
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Georg-August-University Goettingen, University Medicine Goettingen , Goettingen , Germany
| | - Mario Albrecht
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biometrics and Medical Informatics, University Medicine Greifswald , Greifswald , Germany ; Institute for Knowledge Discovery, Graz University of Technology , Graz , Austria
| | - Lars R Jensen
- Human Molecular Genetics, Department for Human Genetics of the Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Institute for Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University Greifswald , Greifswald , Germany
| | - Andreas W Kuss
- Human Molecular Genetics, Department for Human Genetics of the Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, Institute for Human Genetics, University Medicine Greifswald, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University Greifswald , Greifswald , Germany
| | - Thomas A Bayer
- Division of Molecular Psychiatry, Georg-August-University Goettingen, University Medicine Goettingen , Goettingen , Germany
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Klohs J, Rudin M, Shimshek DR, Beckmann N. Imaging of cerebrovascular pathology in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2014; 6:32. [PMID: 24659966 PMCID: PMC3952109 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular pathology may interact with neurodegeneration and thus aggravate cognitive decline. As the relationship between these two processes is poorly understood, research has been increasingly focused on understanding the link between cerebrovascular alterations and AD. This has at last been spurred by the engineering of transgenic animals, which display pathological features of AD and develop cerebral amyloid angiopathy to various degrees. Transgenic models are versatile for investigating the role of amyloid deposition and vascular dysfunction, and for evaluating novel therapeutic concepts. In addition, research has benefited from the development of novel imaging techniques, which are capable of characterizing vascular pathology in vivo. They provide vascular structural read-outs and have the ability to assess the functional consequences of vascular dysfunction as well as to visualize and monitor the molecular processes underlying these pathological alterations. This article focusses on recent in vivo small animal imaging studies addressing vascular aspects related to AD. With the technical advances of imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance, nuclear and microscopic imaging, molecular, functional and structural information related to vascular pathology can now be visualized in vivo in small rodents. Imaging vascular and parenchymal amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition as well as Aβ transport pathways have been shown to be useful to characterize their dynamics and to elucidate their role in the development of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and AD. Structural and functional imaging read-outs have been employed to describe the deleterious affects of Aβ on vessel morphology, hemodynamics and vascular integrity. More recent imaging studies have also addressed how inflammatory processes partake in the pathogenesis of the disease. Moreover, imaging can be pivotal in the search for novel therapies targeting the vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Klohs
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich Zurich, Switzerland ; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Rudin
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich Zurich, Switzerland ; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich Zurich, Switzerland ; Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Derya R Shimshek
- Autoimmunity, Transplantation and Inflammation/Neuroinflammation Department, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolau Beckmann
- Analytical Sciences and Imaging, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research Basel, Switzerland
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Cheng D, Low JK, Logge W, Garner B, Karl T. Novel behavioural characteristics of female APPSwe/PS1ΔE9 double transgenic mice. Behav Brain Res 2014; 260:111-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.11.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Revised: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Janssens J, Etienne H, Idriss S, Azmi A, Martin B, Maudsley S. Systems-Level G Protein-Coupled Receptor Therapy Across a Neurodegenerative Continuum by the GLP-1 Receptor System. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2014; 5:142. [PMID: 25225492 PMCID: PMC4150252 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2014.00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
With our increasing appreciation of the true complexity of diseases and pathophysiologies, it is clear that this knowledge needs to inform the future development of pharmacotherapeutics. For many disorders, the disease mechanism itself is a complex process spanning multiple signaling networks, tissues, and organ systems. Identifying the precise nature and locations of the pathophysiology is crucial for the creation of systemically effective drugs. Diseases once considered constrained to a limited range of organ systems, e.g., central neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington' disease (HD), the role of multiple central and peripheral organ systems in the etiology of such diseases is now widely accepted. With this knowledge, it is increasingly clear that these seemingly distinct neurodegenerative disorders (AD, PD, and HD) possess multiple pathophysiological similarities thereby demonstrating an inter-related continuum of disease-related molecular alterations. With this systems-level appreciation of neurodegenerative diseases, it is now imperative to consider that pharmacotherapeutics should be developed specifically to address the systemic imbalances that create the disorders. Identification of potential systems-level signaling axes may facilitate the generation of therapeutic agents with synergistic remedial activity across multiple tissues, organ systems, and even diseases. Here, we discuss the potentially therapeutic systems-level interaction of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) ligand-receptor axis with multiple aspects of the AD, PD, and HD neurodegenerative continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Janssens
- Translational Neurobiology Group, VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Harmonie Etienne
- Translational Neurobiology Group, VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sherif Idriss
- Translational Neurobiology Group, VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Abdelkrim Azmi
- Translational Neurobiology Group, VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bronwen Martin
- Metabolism Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stuart Maudsley
- Translational Neurobiology Group, VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Stuart Maudsley, Translational Neurobiology Group, VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Building V, Antwerpen B2610, Belgium e-mail:
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Bennett L, Kersaitis C, Macaulay SL, Münch G, Niedermayer G, Nigro J, Payne M, Sheean P, Vallotton P, Zabaras D, Bird M. Vitamin D2-enriched button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) improves memory in both wild type and APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice. PLoS One 2013; 8:e76362. [PMID: 24204618 PMCID: PMC3799746 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2013] [Accepted: 08/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency is widespread, affecting over 30% of adult Australians, and increasing up to 80% for at-risk groups including the elderly (age>65). The role for Vitamin D in development of the central nervous system is supported by the association between Vitamin D deficiency and incidence of neurological and psychiatric disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). A reported positive relationship between Vitamin D status and cognitive performance suggests that restoring Vitamin D status might provide a cognitive benefit to those with Vitamin D deficiency. Mushrooms are a rich source of ergosterol, which can be converted to Vitamin D2 by treatment with UV light, presenting a new and convenient dietary source of Vitamin D2. We hypothesised that Vitamin D2-enriched mushrooms (VDM) could prevent the cognitive and pathological abnormalities associated with dementia. Two month old wild type (B6C3) and AD transgenic (APPSwe/PS1dE9) mice were fed a diet either deficient in Vitamin D2 or a diet which was supplemented with VDM, containing 1±0.2 µg/kg (∼54 IU/kg) vitamin D2, for 7 months. Effects of the dietary intervention on memory were assessed pre- and post-feeding. Brain sections were evaluated for amyloid β (Aβ) plaque loads and inflammation biomarkers using immuno-histochemical methods. Plasma vitamin D metabolites, Aβ40, Aβ42, calcium, protein and cholesterol were measured using biochemical assays. Compared with mice on the control diet, VDM-fed wild type and AD transgenic mice displayed improved learning and memory, had significantly reduced amyloid plaque load and glial fibrillary acidic protein, and elevated interleukin-10 in the brain. The results suggest that VDM might provide a dietary source of Vitamin D2 and other bioactives for preventing memory-impairment in dementia. This study supports the need for a randomised clinical trial to determine whether or not VDM consumption can benefit cognitive performance in the wider population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Bennett
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Preventative Health Flagship, Animal, Food and Health Sciences, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cindy Kersaitis
- University of Western Sydney, School of Medicine, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stuart Lance Macaulay
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Preventative Health Flagship, Materials Science and Engineering, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gerald Münch
- University of Western Sydney, School of Medicine, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
- Molecular Medicine Research Group, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Garry Niedermayer
- University of Western Sydney, School of Medicine, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Julie Nigro
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Preventative Health Flagship, Materials Science and Engineering, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew Payne
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Mathematics and Information Sciences, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul Sheean
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Preventative Health Flagship, Animal, Food and Health Sciences, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Pascal Vallotton
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Mathematics and Information Sciences, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dimitrios Zabaras
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Animal, Food and Health Sciences, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michael Bird
- University of Western Sydney, School of Medicine, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
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Jansen D, Zerbi V, Janssen CIF, Dederen PJWC, Mutsaers MPC, Hafkemeijer A, Janssen AL, Nobelen CLM, Veltien A, Asten JJ, Heerschap A, Kiliaan AJ. A longitudinal study of cognition, proton MR spectroscopy and synaptic and neuronal pathology in aging wild-type and AβPPswe-PS1dE9 mice. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63643. [PMID: 23717459 PMCID: PMC3661598 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2013] [Accepted: 04/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) is a valuable tool in Alzheimer’s disease research, investigating the functional integrity of the brain. The present longitudinal study set out to characterize the neurochemical profile of the hippocampus, measured by single voxel 1H MRS at 7 Tesla, in the brains of AβPPSswe-PS1dE9 and wild-type mice at 8 and 12 months of age. Furthermore, we wanted to determine whether alterations in hippocampal metabolite levels coincided with behavioral changes, cognitive decline and neuropathological features, to gain a better understanding of the underlying neurodegenerative processes. Moreover, correlation analyses were performed in the 12-month-old AβPP-PS1 animals with the hippocampal amyloid-β deposition, TBS-T soluble Aβ levels and high-molecular weight Aβ aggregate levels to gain a better understanding of the possible involvement of Aβ in neurochemical and behavioral changes, cognitive decline and neuropathological features in AβPP-PS1 transgenic mice. Our results show that at 8 months of age AβPPswe-PS1dE9 mice display behavioral and cognitive changes compared to age-matched wild-type mice, as determined in the open field and the (reverse) Morris water maze. However, there were no variations in hippocampal metabolite levels at this age. AβPP-PS1 mice at 12 months of age display more severe behavioral and cognitive impairment, which coincided with alterations in hippocampal metabolite levels that suggest reduced neuronal integrity. Furthermore, correlation analyses suggest a possible role of Aβ in inflammatory processes, synaptic dysfunction and impaired neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Jansen
- Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Valerio Zerbi
- Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Carola I. F. Janssen
- Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter J. W. C. Dederen
- Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Martina P. C. Mutsaers
- Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anne Hafkemeijer
- Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anna-Lena Janssen
- Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Cindy L. M. Nobelen
- Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Andor Veltien
- Department of Radiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jack J. Asten
- Department of Radiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Arend Heerschap
- Department of Radiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Amanda J. Kiliaan
- Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Donders Centre for Neuroscience, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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