scholarly journals Altered Theta Oscillations and Aberrant Cortical Excitatory Activity in the 5XFAD Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Elisabeth Siwek ◽  
Ralf Müller ◽  
Christina Henseler ◽  
Astrid Trog ◽  
Andreas Lundt ◽  
...  

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by impairment of memory function. The 5XFAD mouse model was analyzed and compared with wild-type (WT) controls for aberrant cortical excitability and hippocampal theta oscillations by using simultaneous video-electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring. Seizure staging revealed that 5XFAD mice exhibited cortical hyperexcitability whereas controls did not. In addition, 5XFAD mice displayed a significant increase in hippocampal theta activity from the light to dark phase during nonmotor activity. We also observed a reduction in mean theta frequency in 5XFAD mice compared to controls that was again most prominent during nonmotor activity. Transcriptome analysis of hippocampal probes and subsequent qPCR validation revealed an upregulation of Plcd4 that might be indicative of enhanced muscarinic signalling. Our results suggest that 5XFAD mice exhibit altered cortical excitability, hippocampal dysrhythmicity, and potential changes in muscarinic signaling.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 1144
Author(s):  
Ariel Angel ◽  
Rotem Volkman ◽  
Tabitha Grace Royal ◽  
Daniel Offen

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and is the most common form of dementia in the elderly. Caspases, a family of cysteine proteases, are major mediators of apoptosis and inflammation. Caspase-6 is considered to be an up-stream modulator of AD pathogenesis as active caspase-6 is abundant in neuropil threads, neuritic plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles of AD brains. In order to further elucidate the role of caspase-6 activity in the pathogenesis of AD, we produced a double transgenic mouse model, combining the 5xFAD mouse model of AD with caspase-6 knock out (C6-KO) mice. Behavioral examinations of 5xFAD/C6-KO double transgenic mice showed improved performance in spatial learning, memory, and anxiety/risk assessment behavior, as compared to 5xFAD mice. Hippocampal mRNA expression analyses showed significantly reduced levels of inflammatory mediator TNF-α, while the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased in 5xFAD/C6-KO mice. A significant reduction in amyloid-β plaques could be observed and immunohistochemistry analyses showed reduced levels of activated microglia and astrocytes in 5xFAD/C6-KO, compared to 5xFAD mice. Together, these results indicate a substantial role for caspase-6 in the pathology of the 5xFAD model of AD and suggest further validation of caspase-6 as a potential therapeutic target for AD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 698
Author(s):  
Hyeon Jeong Seo ◽  
Jung Eun Park ◽  
Seong-Min Choi ◽  
Taekyoung Kim ◽  
Soo Hyun Cho ◽  
...  

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a rapid accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) protein in the hippocampus, which impairs synaptic structures and neuronal signal transmission, induces neuronal loss, and diminishes memory and cognitive functions. The present study investigated the impact of neuregulin 1 (NRG1)-ErbB4 signaling on the impairment of neural networks underlying hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in 5xFAD mice, a model of AD with greater symptom severity than that of TG2576 mice. Specifically, we observed parvalbumin (PV)-containing hippocampal interneurons, the effect of NRG1 on hippocampal LTP, and the functioning of learning and memory. We found a significant decrease in the number of PV interneurons in 11-month-old 5xFAD mice. Moreover, synaptic transmission in the 5xFAD mice decreased at 6 months of age. The 11-month-old transgenic AD mice showed fewer inhibitory PV neurons and impaired NRG1-ErbB4 signaling than did wild-type mice, indicating that the former exhibit the impairment of neuronal networks underlying LTP in the hippocampal Schaffer-collateral pathway. In conclusion, this study confirmed the impaired LTP in 5xFAD mice and its association with aberrant NRG1-ErbB signaling in the neuronal network.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0271678X2199617
Author(s):  
Narayan D Soni ◽  
Akila Ramesh ◽  
Dipak Roy ◽  
Anant B Patel

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a very common neurodegenerative disorder. Although a majority of the AD cases are sporadic, most of the studies are conducted using transgenic models. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) administered streptozotocin (STZ) animals have been used to explore mechanisms in sporadic AD. In this study, we have investigated memory and neurometabolism of ICV-STZ-administered C57BL6/J mice. The neuronal and astroglial metabolic activity was measured in 1H-[13C]-NMR spectrum of cortical and hippocampal tissue extracts of mice infused with [1,6-13C2]glucose and [2-13C]acetate, respectively. STZ-administered mice exhibited reduced (p = 0.00002) recognition index for memory. The levels of creatine, GABA, glutamate and NAA were reduced (p ≤ 0.04), while that of myo-inositol was increased (p < 0.05) in STZ-treated mice. There was a significant (p ≤ 0.014) reduction in aspartate-C3, glutamate-C4/C3, GABA-C2 and glutamine-C4 labeling from [1,6-13C2]glucose. This resulted in decreased rate of glucose oxidation in the cerebral cortex (0.64 ± 0.05 vs. 0.77 ± 0.05 µmol/g/min, p = 0.0008) and hippocampus (0.60 ± 0.04 vs. 0.73 ± 0.07 µmol/g/min, p = 0.001) of STZ-treated mice, due to similar reductions of glucose oxidation in glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons. Additionally, reduced glutamine-C4 labeling points towards compromised synaptic neurotransmission in STZ-treated mice. These data suggest that the ICV-STZ model exhibits neurometabolic deficits typically observed in AD, and its utility in understanding the mechanism of sporadic AD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Davis ◽  
Bibiana C. Mota ◽  
Larissa Stead ◽  
Emily O. C. Palmer ◽  
Laura Lombardero ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Astrocytes provide a vital support to neurons in normal and pathological conditions. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains, reactive astrocytes have been found surrounding amyloid plaques, forming an astrocytic scar. However, their role and potential mechanisms whereby they affect neuroinflammation, amyloid pathology, and synaptic density in AD remain unclear. Methods To explore the role of astrocytes on Aβ pathology and neuroinflammatory markers, we pharmacologically ablated them in organotypic brain culture slices (OBCSs) from 5XFAD mouse model of AD and wild-type (WT) littermates with the selective astrocytic toxin L-alpha-aminoadipate (L-AAA). To examine the effects on synaptic circuitry, we measured dendritic spine number and size in OBCSs from Thy-1-GFP transgenic mice incubated with synthetic Aβ42 or double transgenics Thy-1-GFP/5XFAD mice treated with LAAA or vehicle for 24 h. Results Treatment of OBCSs with L-AAA resulted in an increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in conditioned media of WTs and 5XFAD slices, associated with changes in microglia morphology but not in density. The profile of inflammatory markers following astrocytic loss was different in WT and transgenic cultures, showing reductions in inflammatory mediators produced in astrocytes only in WT sections. In addition, pharmacological ablation of astrocytes led to an increase in Aβ levels in homogenates of OBCS from 5XFAD mice compared with vehicle controls, with reduced enzymatic degradation of Aβ due to lower neprilysin and insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) expression. Furthermore, OBSCs from wild-type mice treated with L-AAA and synthetic amyloid presented 56% higher levels of Aβ in culture media compared to sections treated with Aβ alone, concomitant with reduced expression of IDE in culture medium, suggesting that astrocytes contribute to Aβ clearance and degradation. Quantification of hippocampal dendritic spines revealed a reduction in their density following L-AAA treatment in all groups analyzed. In addition, pharmacological ablation of astrocytes resulted in a decrease in spine size in 5XFAD OBCSs but not in OBCSs from WT treated with synthetic Aβ compared to vehicle control. Conclusions Astrocytes play a protective role in AD by aiding Aβ clearance and supporting synaptic plasticity.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Fanglei Han ◽  
Jia Zhao ◽  
Guoqing Zhao

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease which shows a set of symptoms involving cognitive changes and psychological changes. Given that AD is the most common form of dementia in aging population and the increasing demand for anesthesia/surgery with aging, there has been significant interest in the exact impact of volatile anesthetics on cognitive function and pathological alterations in AD population. Objective: This study aimed to investigate behavioral changes and neuropathology in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease with short-term exposure or long-term exposure to desflurane, sevoflurane, or isoflurane. Methods: In this study, we exposed 5xFAD mouse model of AD to isoflurane, sevoflurane, or desflurane in two different time periods (30 min and 6 h), and the memory related behaviors as well as the pathological changes in 5xFAD mice were evaluated 7 days after the anesthetic exposure. Results: We found that short-term exposure to volatile anesthetics did not affect hippocampus dependent memory and the amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition in the brain. However, long-term exposure to sevoflurane or isoflurane significantly increased the Aβ deposition in CA1 and CA3 regions of hippocampus, as well as the glial cell activation in amygdala. Besides, the PSD-95 expression was decreased in 5xFAD mice with exposure to sevoflurane or isoflurane and the caspase-3 activation was enhanced in isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane groups. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the time-dependent effects of common volatile anesthetics and implicate that desflurane has the potential benefits to prolonged anesthetic exposure in AD patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Avijit Banik ◽  
Radhika Amaradhi ◽  
Daniel Lee ◽  
Michael Sau ◽  
Wenyi Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) causes substantial medical and societal burden with no therapies ameliorating cognitive deficits. Centralized pathologies involving amyloids, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuroinflammatory pathways are being investigated to identify disease-modifying targets for AD. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is one of the potential neuroinflammatory agents involved in AD progression. However, chronic use of COX-2 inhibitors in patients produced adverse cardiovascular effects. We asked whether inhibition of EP2 receptors, downstream of the COX-2 signaling pathway, can ameliorate neuroinflammation in AD brains in presence or absence of a secondary inflammatory stimuli. Methods We treated 5xFAD mice and their non-transgenic (nTg) littermates in presence or absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with an EP2 antagonist (TG11-77.HCl). In cohort 1, nTg (no-hit) or 5xFAD (single-hit—genetic) mice were treated with vehicle or TG11-77.HCl for 12 weeks. In cohort 2, nTg (single-hit—environmental) and 5xFAD mice (two-hit) were administered LPS (0.5 mg/kg/week) and treated with vehicle or TG11-77.HCl for 8 weeks. Results Complete blood count analysis showed that LPS induced anemia of inflammation in both groups in cohort 2. There was no adverse effect of LPS or EP2 antagonist on body weight throughout the treatment. In the neocortex isolated from the two-hit cohort of females, but not males, the elevated mRNA levels of proinflammatory mediators (IL-1β, TNF, IL-6, CCL2, EP2), glial markers (IBA1, GFAP, CD11b, S110B), and glial proteins were significantly reduced by EP2 antagonist treatment. Intriguingly, the EP2 antagonist had no effect on either of the single-hit cohorts. There was a modest increase in amyloid–plaque deposition upon EP2 antagonist treatment in the two-hit female brains, but not in the single-hit genetic female cohort. Conclusion These results reveal a potential neuroinflammatory role for EP2 in the two-hit 5xFAD mouse model. A selective EP2 antagonist reduces inflammation only in female AD mice subjected to a second inflammatory insult.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1423
Author(s):  
Zackary Bowers ◽  
Panchanan Maiti ◽  
Ali Bourcier ◽  
Jarod Morse ◽  
Kenneth Jenrow ◽  
...  

Combined treatments using polyphenols and omega fatty acids provide several therapeutic benefits for a variety of age-related disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previously, we found a commercial product, Total Body Rhythm (TBR), consisting of tart cherry extract, a potent polyphenol, and omega fatty acids, significantly reduced memory, and neuropathological deficits in the 192 IgG-saporin mouse model of AD. The present study assessed the efficacy of TBR for treating behavioral and neuropathological deficits in the 5xFAD model of AD. Both 6- and 12-month-old 5xFAD mice and age-matched wild-type controls received TBR (60 mg/kg) or the equivalent dose of vehicle (0.5% methylcellulose) via oral administration, every other day for two months. All mice were tested in the open field (OF), novel object recognition (NOR), and the Morris water maze (MWM) tasks. In addition, neuronal morphology, neurodegeneration, Aβ plaque load, and glial activation were assessed. TBR treatment reduced memory deficits in the MWM and NOR tests and lessened anxiety levels in the OF task, mostly in the 6-month-old male mice. TBR also protected against neuron loss, reduced activation of astrocytes and microglia, primarily in 6-month-old mice, and attenuated Aβ deposition. These results suggest that the combination of tart cherry extract and omega fatty acids in TBR can reduce AD-like deficits in 5xFAD mice.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alpdogan Kantarci ◽  
Christina M. Tognoni ◽  
Wael Yaghmoor ◽  
Amin Marghalani ◽  
Danielle Stephens ◽  
...  

Abstract Periodontal disease (PD) has been suggested to be a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We tested the impact of ligature-induced PD on 5xFAD mice and WT littermates. At baseline, 5xFAD mice presented significant alveolar bone loss compared to WT mice. After the induction of PD, both WT and 5xFAD mice experienced alveolar bone loss. PD increased the level of Iba1-immunostained microglia in WT mice. In 5xFAD mice, PD increased the level of insoluble Aβ42. The increased level in Iba1 immunostaining that parallels the accumulation of Aβ in 5xFAD mice was not affected by PD except for a decrease in the dentate gyrus. Analysis of double-label fluorescent images showed a decline in Iba1 in the proximity of Aβ plaques in 5xFAD mice with PD compared to those without PD suggesting a PD-induced decrease in plaque-associated microglia (PAM). PD reduced IL-6, MCP-1, GM-CSF, and IFN-γ in brains of WT mice and reduced IL-10 in 5xFAD mice. The data demonstrated that PD increases neuroinflammation in WT mice and disrupts the neuroinflammatory response in 5xFAD mice and suggest that microglia is central to the association between PD and AD.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document