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de Bakker DEM, Valenzano DR. Turquoise killifish: A natural model of age-dependent brain degeneration. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 90:102019. [PMID: 37482345 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) are naturally short-lived vertebrates that display a wide range of spontaneous age-related changes, including onset of cancer, reduced mobility, and cognitive decline. Here, we focus on describing the phenotypic spectrum of the aging killifish brain. As turquoise killifish age, their dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurons undergo a significant decline in number. Furthermore, brain aging in turquoise killifish is associated with several glial-specific changes, such as an increase in the astrocyte-covered surface area and an increase in the numbers of microglial cells, i.e. the brain-specific macrophage population. Killifish brains undergo age-dependent reduced proteasome activity and increased protein aggregation, including the aggregation of the Parkinson's disease marker α-synuclein. Parallel to brain degeneration, turquoise killifish develop spontaneous age-related gut dysbiosis, which has been proposed to affect human neurodegenerative disease. Finally, aged turquoise killifish display declined learning capacity. We argue that, taken together, the molecular, cellular and functional changes that spontaneously take place during aging in killifish brains are consistent with a robust degenerative process that shares remarkable similarities with human neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, we propose that turquoise killifish represent a powerful model of spontaneous brain degeneration which can be effectively used to explore the causal mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis E M de Bakker
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Dario R Valenzano
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745, Jena, Germany.
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2
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Rodrigues LL, Mesquita LP, Costa RC, Gomes RG, Biihrer DA, Maiorka PC. Multiple infarcts and hemorrhages in the central nervous system of a dog with cerebral amyloid angiopathy: a case report. BMC Vet Res 2018; 14:370. [PMID: 30482198 PMCID: PMC6258392 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1700-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background β-amyloid (Aβ) can accumulate in the brain of aged dogs, and within vessels walls, the disease is called cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). In humans, Alzheimer’s disease and CAA are strongly correlated with cerebrovascular disease. However, in dogs, this association has not been extensively studied yet. The present report highlights the pathological and clinical features of a concomitant cerebrovascular disease and amyloid precursor protein (APP) accumulation in the brain of a dog. Case presentation A female, 16-year-old, Standard Poodle with a one-year history of cognitive deficits presented with an acute onset of right-sided postural reaction deficit and circling, left-sided head tilt, positional nystagmus, and ataxia. Due to poor prognosis the dog was euthanized, and pathological examination of the brain revealed an acute lacunar infarction within the thalamus extending to rostral colliculus. Additional findings included subacute and chronic areas of ischemia throughout the brain and areas of hemorrhage within the medulla. Immunolabeling revealed APP deposition within intraparenchymal vessels of frontal, temporal and occipital cortex, hippocampus, diencephalon, mesencephalon and myelencephalon, besides meningeal vessels walls. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunolabeling showed marked astrocytosis around the acute area of infarction and within chronic areas of ischemia. Histological examination of the brain along with immunohistochemistry results showed a concomitant APP, which is an Aβ precursor, accumulation within the neuroparenchyma and vessels (CAA) with histological evidences of a cerebrovascular disease in an aged dog. Conclusions This report shows that APP accumulation in the brain can occur concomitantly to a severe cerebrovascular disease in a dog. Further studies are necessary to elucidate if cerebrovascular disease is associated with Aβ accumulation in the brain of dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís Limeira Rodrigues
- Departament of Pathology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil.
| | - Leonardo Pereira Mesquita
- Departament of Pathology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Rafael Carneiro Costa
- Departament of Pathology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Raquel Gonçalves Gomes
- Departament of Pathology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Daniel Arrais Biihrer
- Departament of Pathology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Paulo César Maiorka
- Departament of Pathology, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil
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Smolek T, Madari A, Farbakova J, Kandrac O, Jadhav S, Cente M, Brezovakova V, Novak M, Zilka N. Tau hyperphosphorylation in synaptosomes and neuroinflammation are associated with canine cognitive impairment. J Comp Neurol 2015; 524:874-95. [PMID: 26239295 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Revised: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Canine cognitive impairment syndrome (CDS) represents a group of symptoms related to the aging of the canine brain. These changes ultimately lead to a decline of memory function and learning abilities, alteration of social interaction, impairment of normal housetraining, and changes in sleep-wake cycle and general activity. We have clinically examined 215 dogs, 28 of which underwent autopsy. With canine brains, we performed extensive analysis of pathological abnormalities characteristic of human Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration, including β-amyloid senile plaques, tau neurofibrillary tangles, and fused in sarcoma (FUS) and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP43) inclusions. Most demented dogs displayed senile plaques, mainly in the frontal and temporal cortex. Tau neurofibrillary inclusions were found in only one dog. They were identified with antibodies used to detect tau neurofibrillary lesions in the human brain. The inclusions were also positive for Gallyas silver staining. As in humans, they were distributed mainly in the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, and temporal cortex. On the other hand, FUS and TDP43 aggregates were not present in any of the examined brain samples. We also found that CDS was characterized by the presence of reactive and senescent microglial cells in the frontal cortex. Our transcriptomic study revealed a significant dysregulation of genes involved in neuroinflammation. Finally, we analyzed tau phosphoproteome in the synaptosomes. Proteomic studies revealed a significant increase of hyperphosphorylated tau in synaptosomes of demented dogs compared with nondemented dogs. This study suggests that cognitive decline in dogs is related to the tau synaptic impairment and neuroinflammation. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:874-895, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Smolek
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Aladar Madari
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 040 01, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Jana Farbakova
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 040 01, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Ondrej Kandrac
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, 040 01, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Santosh Jadhav
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Martin Cente
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience SE, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Veronika Brezovakova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Michal Novak
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience SE, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Norbert Zilka
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Axon Neuroscience SE, 811 02, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, n.o., 811 02, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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Abstract
Aging dogs and cats show neurodegenerative features that are similar to human aging and Alzheimer disease. Neuropathologic changes with age may be linked to signs of cognitive dysfunction both in the laboratory and in a clinic setting. Less is known about cat brain aging and cognition and this represents an area for further study. Neurodegenerative diseases such as lysosomal storage diseases in dogs and cats also show similar features of human aging, suggesting some common underlying pathogenic mechanisms and also suggesting pathways that can be modified to promote healthy brain aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles H Vite
- Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Section of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Studies - Philadelphia, 3900 Delancey Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, 800 South Limestone Street, 203 Sanders Brown Building, Lexington, KY 40515, USA.
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5
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Martin SB, Dowling ALS, Head E. Therapeutic interventions targeting Beta amyloid pathogenesis in an aging dog model. Curr Neuropharmacol 2012; 9:651-61. [PMID: 22654723 PMCID: PMC3263459 DOI: 10.2174/157015911798376217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2010] [Revised: 12/15/2010] [Accepted: 01/13/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aged dogs and humans share complex cognitive and pathological responses to aging. Specifically, dogs develop Alzheimer's Disease (AD) like beta-amyloid (Aβ) that are associated with cognitive deficits. Currently, therapeutic approaches to prevent AD are targeted towards reduced production, aggregation and increased clearance of Aβ. The current review discusses cognition and neuropathology of the aging canine model and how it has and continues to be useful in further understanding the safety and efficacy of potential AD prevention therapies targeting Aβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah B Martin
- Sanders Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY, USA
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6
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Fukuoka A, Nakayama H, Doi K. Immunohistochemical detection of beta-amyloid and beta-amyloid precursor protein in the canine brain and non-neuronal epithelial tissues. Amyloid 2004; 11:173-8. [PMID: 15523919 DOI: 10.1080/13506120400000756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
We examined the immunohistochemical localization of beta-amyloid (Abeta) and beta-amyloid precursor protein (AFPP) in the neuronal and non-neuronal tissues of 14 aged (over 10 years old) and 4 young (0-4 years old) dogs. Abeta was detected only in the senile plaque in the cerebrum of aged dogs. AbetaPP was expressed in the neuronal cell body, neuronal fiber, senile plaque and perimalacic tissue independent of age. In addition, epithelial cells in the bronchus, bronchial glands, gastric and intestinal mucosa, intrahepatic bile ducts, and pancreatic ducts and exocrine glands were immunopositive for AbetaPP. Thus, it is suggested that AbetaPP may be expressed in the non-neuronal epithelial tissues independent of age and of the presence of senile plaques, and the expression may depend on individual differences or physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayumi Fukuoka
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan
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Reichard RR, White CL, Hladik CL, Dolinak D. Beta-amyloid precursor protein staining in nonhomicidal pediatric medicolegal autopsies. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2003; 62:237-47. [PMID: 12638728 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/62.3.237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunohistochemical staining for beta-amyloid precursor protein (betaAPP) has been validated as a marker for axonal injury in adults surviving > or = 2 hours after white matter damage. The significance of betaAPP staining in pediatric brains and spinal cords is not as well established. We evaluated the white matter immunoreactivity for betaAPP from a variety of pediatric medicolegal autopsies: natural disease (non-Sudden Infant Death Syndrome [SIDS]), SIDS, motor vehicle accidents, drowning, near-drowning, overlay, carbon monoxide toxicity, miscellaneous trauma, and mechanical asphyxia. The cases of carbon monoxide toxicity, motor vehicle accidents (death at scene), drowning (with resuscitation), and a natural (non-SIDS) death had no significant white matter staining. The traumatic deaths with a significant survival interval, a variety of natural deaths, the near-drowning case, and surprisingly, all SIDS had detectable betaAPP white matter immunostaining. These results demonstrate that features other than traumatic axonal injury, such as metabolic insults and hypoxic-ischemic injury secondary to vascular compromise, must contribute to betaAPP immunostaining. In addition, we describe a variety of betaAPP-immunoreactive structures not previously reported in the pediatric population. This study illustrates that betaAPP immunostaining enhances detection of a variety of white matter changes, and provides a basis for interpretation of these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Ross Reichard
- Neuropathology Laboratory, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Department of Pathology, Dallas, Texas, USA.
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8
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Oglesbee MJ, Alldinger S, Vasconcelos D, Diehl KA, Shinko PD, Baumgärtner W, Tallman R, Podell M. Intrinsic thermal resistance of the canine brain. Neuroscience 2002; 113:55-64. [PMID: 12123684 DOI: 10.1016/s0306-4522(02)00159-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Hyperthermia above a critical threshold results in multisystemic changes that include neurological manifestations of heat stroke. It is unknown if the latter represents an intrinsic thermal sensitivity of the CNS or whether injury is secondary to physiological responses of non-CNS origin. To address this issue, the present work examined functional, structural, and biochemical changes in the CNS of dogs subjected to a thermal dosage immediately below that which induces disseminated intravascular coagulation with secondary multiple organ injury. The experimental approach is previously reported, inducing a 42.5 degrees C, 90 min, whole body hyperthermia while preventing other physiological responses to treatment, including respiratory alkalosis and significant reductions in mean arterial pressure. Functional analyses included neurologic examinations and brainstem auditory evoked potential recordings in the post-treatment interval in both hyperthermic and euthermic control populations. Biochemical and structural analyses examined the expression of 70-kDa heat shock proteins, cytokines, markers of astroglial and microglial injury/activation, evidence of vascular endothelial damage, and evidence of neuronal and axonal injury in brain between 0.5 h and 8 days from the end of the treatment. The only significant change associated with treatment was induction of the major inducible 70-kDa heat shock protein, this being most prominent in the cerebellum with maximal expression at 6 h and a return to baseline by 8 days.Collectively, from these results we suggest that the canine brain is intrinsically resistant to sublethal hyperthermia such that when CNS lesions occur, they do so in the presence of other physiological derangements.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Oglesbee
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, 1925 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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Head E, Thornton PL, Tong L, Cotman CW. Initiation and propagation of molecular cascades in human brain aging: insight from the canine model to promote successful aging. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2000; 24:777-86. [PMID: 11191712 DOI: 10.1016/s0278-5846(00)00105-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
1. Normal aging is thought to proceed through two stages: initiation and propagation. Each of these phases is associated with different neuroanatomical events, vulnerabilities to injury and responsiveness to interventions. 2. The role of beta-amyloid (Abeta) in neuron dysfunction in the initiation stage may be mediated through alterations in signal transduction pathways involving cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB). CREB phosphorylation is associated with the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which promotes neuron health and survival. In primary neuronal cultures, Abeta decreases the phosphorylation of CREB, which results in up to a 31% decrease in BDNF levels. 3. In vivo studies also support a role for Abeta in neuron dysfunction since soluble Abeta levels correlate with the loss of synapses in brains of non-demented humans with high pathology. 4. The authors hypothesize that interventions during the initiation stage, when neuron dysfunction, but not overt pathology, is present, have the most promise to promote successful aging. The dog can serve as a useful model for interventions during the initiation stage since dogs develop neuropathology that closely resembles that observed in high pathology human brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Head
- Institute for Brain Aging & Dementia, University of California-Irvine, 92697-4540, USA.
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Pawlik M, Fuchs E, Walker LC, Levy E. Primate-like amyloid-beta sequence but no cerebral amyloidosis in aged tree shrews. Neurobiol Aging 1999; 20:47-51. [PMID: 10466892 DOI: 10.1016/s0197-4580(99)00017-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A central pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease is the profuse deposition of amyloid-beta protein (Abeta) in the brain parenchyma and vessel walls. Abeta also forms deposits in the brains of a variety of mammals, including all aged non-human primates studied to date. The sequence of Abeta in these animals is identical to that in humans. No Abeta deposits have been found in the brains of wild-type rats and mice, suggesting that the three amino acid differences between their Abeta and that of amyloid-bearing mammals impedes the fibrillogenicity of Abeta. Analysis of the primary sequence of the beta-amyloid precursor protein in tree shrews revealed a 98% similarity and 97% identity with the human protein. Furthermore, the predicted amino acid sequence of Abeta in tree shrews is identical to that in humans. However, immunohistochemical analysis failed to reveal beta-amyloid deposits in the neural parenchyma or vasculature of eight aged (7-8 years) tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri). The lack of correlation between the Abeta sequence and amyloid formation suggests that other factors contribute to cerebral amyloid deposition in aged animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Pawlik
- Department of Pharmacology, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016, USA
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11
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Head E, Callahan H, Muggenburg BA, Cotman CW, Milgram NW. Visual-discrimination learning ability and beta-amyloid accumulation in the dog. Neurobiol Aging 1998; 19:415-25. [PMID: 9880044 DOI: 10.1016/s0197-4580(98)00084-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Young, middle-aged, and old beagle dogs were tested on several visual-discrimination tasks: reward- and object-approach learning, object discrimination and reversal, long-term retention of a reversal problem, and a size-discrimination task. Beta-amyloid accumulation in the entorhinal, prefrontal, parietal, and occipital cortices was quantified using immunohistochemical and imaging techniques at the conclusion of cognitive testing. Middle-aged and old dogs were impaired in size-discrimination learning. In each task, a subset of aged dogs was impaired relative to age-matched peers. Beta-amyloid accumulation was age-dependent. However, not all middle-aged and old dogs showed beta-amyloid accumulation in the entorhinal cortex. The error scores from dogs tested with a nonpreferred object during visual discrimination learning and from reversal learning were correlated with beta-amyloid in the prefrontal but not entorhinal cortex. Size-discrimination and reward and object-approach learning error scores were correlated with beta-amyloid accumulation in the entorhinal but not prefrontal cortex. The results of these studies support an association between cognitive test and the location and extent of beta-amyloid pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Head
- Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia, University of California, Irvine, 92697-4540, USA.
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Nakamura S, Kiatipattanasakul W, Nakayama H, Ono F, Sakakibara I, Yoshikawa Y, Goto N, Doi K. Immunohistochemical characteristics of the constituents of senile plaques and amyloid angiopathy in aged cynomolgus monkeys. J Med Primatol 1996; 25:294-300. [PMID: 8906609 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0684.1996.tb00213.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we immunohistochemically examined the several constituents of senile plaques (SPs) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in aged cynomolgus monkeys. Apolipoprotein E (apoE) deposited in all mature plaques and CAA, and in half of the diffuse plaques. Alpha-1-antichymotripsin (alpha ACT) deposited in half of the mature plaques and in one third of the CAA. Amyloid precursor protein (APP), ubiquitin (Ub), and microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) accumulated in the swollen neurites of mature plaques. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was detected in the astrocytes and their processes surrounding the mature plaques. Tau was detected in neither the SPs nor CAA. Therefore, mature plaques involved extracellular A beta, apoE, and alpha ACT, and also astrocytes and swollen neurites. However, diffuse plaques involved only extracellular A beta and apoE. Since these features, except for tau, were consistent with those in humans, this animal model will be useful for studying the pathogenesis of cerebral amyloid deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Nakamura
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo, Japan
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Cummings BJ, Head E, Ruehl W, Milgram NW, Cotman CW. The canine as an animal model of human aging and dementia. Neurobiol Aging 1996; 17:259-68. [PMID: 8744407 DOI: 10.1016/0197-4580(95)02060-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The aged canine displays many features that make it an excellent model for studying the progression of pathology in brain aging and linking these findings to learning, memory and other cognitive functions. Canines develop extensive beta-amyloid deposition within neurons and their synaptic fields, which appears to give rise to senile plaques. These plaques are primarily of the early diffuse subtype. Aged canines also exhibit accumulations of lipofuscin, cerebral vascular changes, dilation of the ventricles, and cytoskeletal changes. Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are not present in the aged canine. Thus, the aged canine brain provides a suitable model for studying early degeneration normally considered to be pre-Alzheimer's. This supposition is also supported by behavioral data. We have found that the extent of beta-amyloid deposition correlates with a decline in select measures of cognitive function. These data provide the first evidence of a correlation between beta-amyloid accumulation and cognitive decline in the absence of NFTs. We summarize four lines of evidence that support using the aged canine as a model of human aging: (a) Aged canines develop aspects of neuropathology similar to that observed in aged humans; (b) Veterinarians have observed that many canines exhibit a clinical syndrome of age-related cognitive dysfunction; (c) Aged canines are deficient on a variety of neuropsychological tests of cognitive function; (d) The level of beta-amyloid accumulation correlates with cognitive dysfunction in the canine. These data indicate that the aged canine is a particularly useful model for studying age-related cognitive dysfunction (ARCD), early neuronal changes associated with aging, and the initial stages of senile plaque formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- B J Cummings
- Brain Aging Institute, University of California, Irvine 92717-4540, USA.
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Li GL, Farooque M, Holtz A, Olsson Y. Changes of beta-amyloid precursor protein after compression trauma to the spinal cord: an experimental study in the rat using immunohistochemistry. J Neurotrauma 1995; 12:269-77. [PMID: 7473801 DOI: 10.1089/neu.1995.12.269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
We evaluated by immunohistochemistry the changes of beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP) and beta-amyloid peptide (beta A) in the spinal cord of rats with compression injury at Th8-9 of mild, moderate, and severe degrees. The spinal cord of normal rats and animals with laminectomy revealed immunoreactivity to beta APP in nerve cell bodies, the initial part of a few axons of the gray matter, and in scattered glial cells. At 4 h after compression, beta APP-immunoreactivity occurred in a few swollen axons of the longitudinal tracts; such beta APP-immunoreactive axons remained throughout the experimental period of 9 days. The number of immunoreactive axons and the intensity of their immunoreactivity were increased in rats with moderate and severe compression. The caudal Th10 segment exhibited more pronounced accumulation of beta APP immunoreactivity than the cranial Th segment. There was no evidence of beta A accumulation after compression injury. In conclusion, there is a rapidly occurring, long-lasting accumulation of immunoreactive beta-amyloid precursor protein after compression injury of rat spinal cord. This accumulation is related to the degree of impact to the cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- G L Li
- Laboratory of Neuropathology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
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