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Collins HM, Greenfield S. Rodent Models of Alzheimer's Disease: Past Misconceptions and Future Prospects. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6222. [PMID: 38892408 PMCID: PMC11172947 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116222] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no effective treatments, not least due to the lack of authentic animal models. Typically, rodent models recapitulate the effects but not causes of AD, such as cholinergic neuron loss: lesioning of cholinergic neurons mimics the cognitive decline reminiscent of AD but not its neuropathology. Alternative models rely on the overexpression of genes associated with familial AD, such as amyloid precursor protein, or have genetically amplified expression of mutant tau. Yet transgenic rodent models poorly replicate the neuropathogenesis and protein overexpression patterns of sporadic AD. Seeding rodents with amyloid or tau facilitates the formation of these pathologies but cannot account for their initial accumulation. Intracerebral infusion of proinflammatory agents offer an alternative model, but these fail to replicate the cause of AD. A novel model is therefore needed, perhaps similar to those used for Parkinson's disease, namely adult wildtype rodents with neuron-specific (dopaminergic) lesions within the same vulnerable brainstem nuclei, 'the isodendritic core', which are the first to degenerate in AD. Site-selective targeting of these nuclei in adult rodents may recapitulate the initial neurodegenerative processes in AD to faithfully mimic its pathogenesis and progression, ultimately leading to presymptomatic biomarkers and preventative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen M. Collins
- Neuro-Bio Ltd., Building F5 The Culham Campus, Abingdon OX14 3DB, UK;
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Filon MJ, Wallace E, Wright S, Douglas DJ, Steinberg LI, Verkuilen CL, Westmark PR, Maganti RK, Westmark CJ. Sleep and diurnal rest-activity rhythm disturbances in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Sleep 2021; 43:5830779. [PMID: 32369586 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Accumulating evidence suggests a strong association between sleep, amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We sought to determine if (1) deficits in rest-activity rhythms and sleep are significant phenotypes in J20 AD mice, (2) metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 inhibitors (mGluR5) could rescue deficits in rest-activity rhythms and sleep, and (3) Aβ levels are responsive to treatment with mGluR5 inhibitors. METHODS Diurnal rest-activity levels were measured by actigraphy and sleep-wake patterns by electroencephalography, while animals were chronically treated with mGluR5 inhibitors. Behavioral tests were performed, and Aβ levels measured in brain lysates. RESULTS J20 mice exhibited a 4.5-h delay in the acrophase of activity levels compared to wild-type littermates and spent less time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep during the second half of the light period. J20 mice also exhibited decreased non-rapid eye movement (NREM) delta power but increased NREM sigma power. The mGluR5 inhibitor CTEP rescued the REM sleep deficit and improved NREM delta and sigma power but did not correct rest-activity rhythms. No statistically significant differences were observed in Aβ levels, rotarod performance, or the passive avoidance task following chronic mGluR5 inhibitor treatment. CONCLUSIONS J20 mice have disruptions in rest-activity rhythms and reduced homeostatic sleep pressure (reduced NREM delta power). NREM delta power was increased following treatment with a mGluR5 inhibitor. Drug bioavailability was poor. Further work is necessary to determine if mGluR5 is a viable target for treating sleep phenotypes in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikolaj J Filon
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Eli Wallace
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Samantha Wright
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Dylan J Douglas
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | | | | | - Pamela R Westmark
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Rama K Maganti
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Cara J Westmark
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
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Ferreira S, Pitman KA, Wang S, Summers BS, Bye N, Young KM, Cullen CL. Amyloidosis is associated with thicker myelin and increased oligodendrogenesis in the adult mouse brain. J Neurosci Res 2020; 98:1905-1932. [PMID: 32557778 PMCID: PMC7540704 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease, amyloid plaque formation is associated with the focal death of oligodendrocytes and soluble amyloid β impairs the survival of oligodendrocytes in vitro. However, the response of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) to early amyloid pathology remains unclear. To explore this, we performed a histological, electrophysiological, and behavioral characterization of transgenic mice expressing a pathological form of human amyloid precursor protein (APP), containing three single point mutations associated with the development of familial Alzheimer's disease (PDGFB‐APPSw.Ind, also known as J20 mice). PDGFB‐APPSw.Ind transgenic mice had impaired survival from weaning, were hyperactive by 2 months of age, and developed amyloid plaques by 6 months of age, however, their spatial memory remained intact over this time course. Hippocampal OPC density was normal in P60‐P180 PDGFB‐APPSw.Ind transgenic mice and, by performing whole‐cell patch‐clamp electrophysiology, we found that their membrane properties, including their response to kainate (100 µM), were largely normal. However, by P100, the response of hippocampal OPCs to GABA was elevated in PDGFB‐APPSw.Ind transgenic mice. We also found that the nodes of Ranvier were shorter, the paranodes longer, and the myelin thicker for hippocampal axons in young adult PDGFB‐APPSw.Ind transgenic mice compared with wildtype littermates. Additionally, oligodendrogenesis was normal in young adulthood, but increased in the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and fimbria of PDGFB‐APPSw.Ind transgenic mice as pathology developed. As the new oligodendrocytes were not associated with a change in total oligodendrocyte number, these cells are likely required for cell replacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solène Ferreira
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Kimberley A Pitman
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Shiwei Wang
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Benjamin S Summers
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Nicole Bye
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Kaylene M Young
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Carlie L Cullen
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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Kosel F, Pelley JMS, Franklin TB. Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease-related pathology. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 112:634-647. [PMID: 32070692 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic mouse models have been used extensively to model the cognitive impairments arising from Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related pathology. However, less is known about the relationship between AD-related pathology and the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) commonly presented by patients. This review discusses the BPSD-like behaviours recapitulated by several mouse models of AD-related pathology, including the APP/PS1, Tg2576, 3xTg-AD, 5xFAD, and APP23 models. Current evidence suggests that social withdrawal and depressive-like behaviours increase with progressive neuropathology, and increased aggression and sleep-wake disturbances are present even at early stages; however, there is no clear evidence to support increased anxiety-like behaviours, agitation (hyperactivity), or general apathy. Overall, transgenic mouse models of AD-related pathology recapitulate some of the BPSD-like behaviours associated with AD, but these behaviours vary by model. This reflects the patient population, where AD patients typically exhibit one or more BPSD, but rarely all symptoms at once. As a result, we suggest that transgenic mouse models are an important tool to investigate the pathology underlying BPSD in human AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Kosel
- The Social Lab, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Jessica M S Pelley
- The Social Lab, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Tamara B Franklin
- The Social Lab, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, B3H 4R2, Canada.
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Villa-Cedillo SA, Soto-Domínguez A, Rodríguez-Rocha H, García-García A, de Jesús Loera-Arias M, Rivera-Chávez LF, Acosta-Espinoza EJ, Valdés J, Zavala-Flores LM, Montes-de-Oca-Luna R, Saucedo-Cárdenas O. The mRVG-9R peptide as a potential therapeutic vector to the central nervous system cells. Cell Biol Int 2019; 43:809-819. [PMID: 31050073 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Our research group has developed a cell-penetrating peptide-based delivery system that includes the Asn194Lys mutation in the rabies virus glycoprotein-9R peptide (mRVG-9R). This system has the capacity to deliver DNA in astrocytes and SH-SY5Y cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of the mRVG-9R peptide to deliver DNA molecules to murine brain cells. The mRVG-9R peptide, a karyophilic peptide (KP) and a plasmid encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) were bound by electrostatic charges to form the mRVG-9R complex. mRVG-9R complex was injected into the cerebral cortex, striatum and hippocampus of C57BL/6 mice by stereotactic surgery. After 2, 4, and 20 days, the animals were sacrificed and their brains were prepared for quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and histological analysis. We detected the GFP expression in neurons and glial cells in the cerebral cortex, striatum, and hippocampus of the murine brain. The results suggest that the mRVG-9R peptide has the ability to deliver DNA molecules to murine brain cells. Also, the expression of the reporter gene is maintained at least up to 20 days after injection in neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia cells. Thus, the in vivo transfection ability of the mRVG-9R peptide, makes it a promising candidate as a therapeutic gene delivery vector to the central nervous system cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila A Villa-Cedillo
- Departamento de Histología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, 64460 Nuevo León, México
| | - Adolfo Soto-Domínguez
- Departamento de Histología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, 64460 Nuevo León, México
| | - Humberto Rodríguez-Rocha
- Departamento de Histología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, 64460 Nuevo León, México
| | - Aracely García-García
- Departamento de Histología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, 64460 Nuevo León, México
| | - María de Jesús Loera-Arias
- Departamento de Histología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, 64460 Nuevo León, México
| | - Luis F Rivera-Chávez
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, 64720 Nuevo León, México
| | - Esrom J Acosta-Espinoza
- Departamento de Histología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, 64460 Nuevo León, México
| | - Jesús Valdés
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, San Pedro Zacatenco, 07360 Ciudad de México, México
| | - Laura M Zavala-Flores
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, 64720 Nuevo León, México
| | - Roberto Montes-de-Oca-Luna
- Departamento de Histología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, 64460 Nuevo León, México
| | - Odila Saucedo-Cárdenas
- Departamento de Histología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, 64460 Nuevo León, México.,Departamento de Genética Molecular, Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, 64720 Nuevo León, México
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