Cholinotrophic basal forebrain system alterations in 3xTg-AD transgenic mice
Document Type
Article
Abstract
The cholinotrophic system, which is dependent upon nerve growth factor and its receptors for survival, is selectively vulnerable in Alzheimer's disease (AD). But, virtually nothing is known about how this deficit develops in relation to the hallmark lesions of this disease, amyloid plaques and tau containing neurofibrillary tangles. The vast majority of transgenic models of AD used to evaluate the effect of beta amyloid (Aβ) deposition upon the cholinotrophic system over-express the amyloid precursor protein (APP). However, nothing is known about how this system is affected in triple transgenic (3xTg)-AD mice, an AD animal model displaying Aβ plaque- and tangle-like pathology in the cortex and hippocampus, which receive extensive cholinergic innervation. We performed a detailed morphological and biochemical characterization of the cholinotrophic system in young (2-4months), middle-aged (13-15months) and old (18-20months) 3xTg-AD mice. Cholinergic neuritic swellings increased in number and size with age, and were more conspicuous in the hippocampal-subicular complex in aged female than in 3xTg-AD male mice. Stereological analysis revealed a reduction in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) positive cells in the medial septum/vertical limb of the diagonal band of Broca in aged 3xTg-AD mice. ChAT enzyme activity levels decreased significantly in the hippocampus of middle-aged 3xTg-AD mice compared to age-matched non-transgenic (or wild type) mice. ProNGF protein levels increased in the cortex of aged 3xTg-AD mice, whereas TrkA protein levels were reduced in a gender-dependent manner in aged mutant mice. In contrast, p75 NTR protein cortical levels were stable but increased in the hippocampus of aged 3xTg-AD mice. These data demonstrate that cholinotrophic alterations in 3xTg-AD mice are age- and gender-dependent and more pronounced in the hippocampus, a structure more severely affected by Aβ plaque pathology. © 2010 Elsevier Inc.
Keywords
Aging, Alzheimer's disease, Amyloid, ChAT, Cholinergic, Nerve growth factor, P75 NTR, ProNGF, Transgenic mice, TrkA
Publication Date
2-1-2011
Publication Title
Neurobiology of Disease
ISSN
09699961
Volume
41
Issue
2
First Page
338
Last Page
352
PubMed ID
20937383
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1016/j.nbd.2010.10.002
Recommended Citation
Perez, Sylvia E.; He, Bin; Muhammad, Nadeem; Oh, Kwang Jin; Fahnestock, Margaret; Ikonomovic, Milos D.; and Mufson, Elliott J., "Cholinotrophic basal forebrain system alterations in 3xTg-AD transgenic mice" (2011). Translational Neuroscience. 1614.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurobiology/1614