Learning impairments following injection of a selective cholinergic immunotoxin, ME20.4 IgG-saporin, into the basal nucleus of Meynert in monkeys

Neural processing in the primary auditory cortex following cholinergic lesions of the basal forebrain in ferrets

Cortical acetylcholine (ACh) release has been linked to various cognitive functions, including perceptual learning. We have previously shown that cortical cholinergic innervation is necessary for accurate sound localization in ferrets, as well as for their ability to adapt with training to altered spatial cues. To explore whether these behavioral deficits are associated with changes in the response properties of cortical neurons, we recorded neural activity in the primary auditory cortex (A1) of anesthetized ferrets in which cholinergic inputs had been reduced by making bilateral injections of the immunotoxin ME20.4-SAP in the nucleus basalis (NB) prior to training the animals. The pattern of spontaneous activity of A1 units recorded in the ferrets with cholinergic lesions (NB ACh-) was similar to that in controls, although the proportion of burst-type units was significantly lower. Depletion of ACh also resulted in more synchronous activity in A1. No changes in thresholds, frequency tuning or in the distribution of characteristic frequencies were found in these animals. When tested with normal acoustic inputs, the spatial sensitivity of A1 neurons in the NB ACh- ferrets and the distribution of their preferred interaural level differences also closely resembled those found in control animals, indicating that these properties had not been altered by sound localization training with one ear occluded. Simulating the animals' previous experience with a virtual earplug in one ear reduced the contralateral preference of A1 units in both groups, but caused azimuth sensitivity to change in slightly different ways, which may reflect the modest adaptation observed in the NB ACh- group. These results show that while ACh is required for behavioral adaptation to altered spatial cues, it is not required for maintenance of the spectral and spatial response properties of A1 neurons.

Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease: Are Olfactory Neuronal Precursors Useful for Antemortem Biomarker Research?

Alzheimer's disease (AD), as the main cause of dementia, affects millions of people around the world, whose diagnosis is based mainly on clinical criteria. Unfortunately, the diagnosis is obtained very late, when the neurodegenerative damage is significant for most patients. Therefore, the exhaustive study of biomarkers is indispensable for diagnostic, prognostic, and even follow-up support. AD is a multifactorial disease, and knowing its underlying pathological mechanisms is crucial to propose new and valuable biomarkers. In this review, we summarize some of the main biomarkers described in AD, which have been evaluated mainly by imaging studies in cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples. Furthermore, we describe and propose neuronal precursors derived from the olfactory neuroepithelium as a potential resource to evaluate some of the widely known biomarkers of AD and to gear toward searching for new biomarkers. These neuronal lineage cells, which can be obtained directly from patients through a non-invasive and outpatient procedure, display several characteristics that validate them as a surrogate model to study the central nervous system, allowing the analysis of AD pathophysiological processes. Moreover, the ease of obtaining and harvesting endows them as an accessible and powerful resource to evaluate biomarkers in clinical practice.

Cholinergic activity reflects reward expectations and predicts behavioral responses

Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) play an important role in associative learning, suggesting that BFCNs may participate in processing stimuli that predict future outcomes. However, the impact of outcome probabilities on BFCN activity remained elusive. Therefore, we performed bulk calcium imaging and recorded spiking of identified cholinergic neurons from the basal forebrain of mice performing a probabilistic Pavlovian cued outcome task. BFCNs responded more to sensory cues that were often paired with reward. Reward delivery also activated BFCNs, with surprising rewards eliciting a stronger response, whereas punishments evoked uniform positive-going responses. We propose that BFCNs differentially weigh predictions of positive and negative reinforcement, reflecting divergent relative salience of forecasting appetitive and aversive outcomes, partially explained by a simple reinforcement learning model of a valence-weighed unsigned prediction error. Finally, the extent of cue-driven cholinergic activation predicted subsequent decision speed, suggesting that the expectation-gated cholinergic firing is instructive to reward-seeking behaviors.

New Possibilities in the Therapeutic Approach to Alzheimer’s Disease

Despite the fact that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, after many years of research regarding this disease, there is no casual treatment. Regardless of the serious public health threat it poses, only five medical treatments for Alzheimer’s disease have been authorized, and they only control symptoms rather than changing the course of the disease. Numerous clinical trials of single-agent therapy did not slow the development of disease or improve symptoms when compared to placebo. Evidence indicates that the pathological alterations linked to AD start many years earlier than a manifestation of the disease. In this pre-clinical period before the neurodegenerative process is established, pharmaceutical therapy might prove invaluable. Although recent findings from the testing of drugs such as aducanumab are encouraging, they should nevertheless be interpreted cautiously. Such medications may be able to delay the onset of dementia, significantly lowering the prevalence of the disease, but are still a long way from having a clinically effective disease-modifying therapy.

Overview of therapeutic targets in management of dementia

Dementia is defined as a gradual cognitive impairment that interferes with everyday tasks, and is a leading cause of dependency, disability, and mortality. According to the current scenario, millions of individuals worldwide have dementia. This review provides with an overview of dementia before moving on to its subtypes (neurodegenerative and non-neurodegenerative) and pathophysiology. It also discusses the incidence and severity of dementia, focusing on Alzheimer's disease with its different hypotheses such as Aβ cascade hypothesis, Tau hypothesis, inflammatory hypothesis, cholinergic and oxidative stress hypothesis. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type and a progressive neurodegenerative illness distinct by neuronal loss and resulting cognitive impairment, leading to dementia. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is considered the most familiar neurodegenerative dementias that affect mostly older population. There are still no disease-modifying therapies available for any dementias at this time, but there are various methods for lowering the risk to dementia patients by using suitable diagnostic and evaluation methods. Thereafter, the management and treatment of primary risk elements of dementia are reviewed. Finally, the future perspectives of dementia (AD) focusing on the impact of the new treatment are discussed.

Amaryllidaceae, Lycopodiaceae Alkaloids and Coumarins—A Comparative Assessment of Safety and Pharmacological Activity

The study aimed to evaluate the safety and pharmacological activity Amaryllidaceae, Lycopodiaceae alkaloids and coumarins obtained from Narcissus triandrus L., Lycopodium clavatum L., Lycopodium annotinum L., Huperzia selago L. and Angelica dahurica (Hoffm.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Franch. & Sav. In the in vivo studies. The influence of the tested compounds on the central nervous system of rats was assessed in behavioral tests (locomotor activity, Y-maze, passive avoidance). In order to investigate the mechanisms of action, biochemical determinations were performed (AChE activity, BChE activity, IL-1β, IL-6 concentration). In order to assess safety, the concentrations of AST, ALT, GGT and urea and creatinine were determined. The results of the conducted studies indicate a high safety profile of the tested compounds. Behavioral tests showed that they significantly improved rodent memory in a passive avoidance test. The results of biochemical studies showed that by reducing the activity of AChE and BChE and lowering the concentration of IL-1β and IL-6, the coumarin-rich Angelica dahurica extract shows the most promising potential for future therapeutic AD strategies.

A comprehensive review on the prevention and regulation of Alzheimer's disease by tea and its active ingredients

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has brought a heavy burden to society as a representative neurodegenerative disease. The etiology of AD combines multiple factors, concluding family, gender, head trauma, diseases and social psychology. There are multiple hypotheses explaining the pathogenesis of AD such as β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and tau hyperphosphorylation, which lead to extracellular amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in neurons. The existing therapeutic drugs have several disadvantages including single target, poor curative effect, and obvious side effects. Tea contains many bioactive components, such as tea polyphenols (TPP), L-theanine (L-TH), tea pigment, tea polysaccharides and caffeine. The epidemiological investigations have shown that drinking tea can reduce the risk of AD. The mechanisms of tea active ingredients in the prevention and regulation of AD includes reducing the generation and aggregation of Aβ; inhibiting tau aggregation and hyperphosphorylation; inhibiting neuronal apoptosis and regulate neurotransmitters; relieving oxidative stress and neuroinflammation as well as the regulation of intestinal flora. This review summarizes the different signaling pathways that tea active ingredients regulate AD. Furthermore, we propose the main limitations of current research and future research directions, hoping to contribute to the development of natural functional foods based on tea active ingredients in the prevention and treatment of AD.

Basal forebrain cholinergic system in the dementias: Vulnerability, resilience, and resistance

The basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCN) provide the primary source of cholinergic innervation of the human cerebral cortex. They are involved in the cognitive processes of learning, memory, and attention. These neurons are differentially vulnerable in various neuropathologic entities that cause dementia. This review summarizes the relevance to BFCN of neuropathologic markers associated with dementias, including the plaques and tangles of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the Lewy bodies of diffuse Lewy body disease, the tauopathy of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-TAU) and the TDP-43 proteinopathy of FTLD-TDP. Each of these proteinopathies has a different relationship to BFCN and their corticofugal axons. Available evidence points to early and substantial degeneration of the BFCN in AD and diffuse Lewy body disease. In AD, the major neurodegenerative correlate is accumulation of phosphotau in neurofibrillary tangles. However, these neurons are less vulnerable to the tauopathy of FTLD. An intriguing finding is that the intracellular tau of AD causes destruction of the BFCN, whereas that of FTLD does not. This observation has profound implications for exploring the impact of different species of tauopathy on neuronal survival. The proteinopathy of FTLD-TDP shows virtually no abnormal inclusions within the BFCN. Thus, the BFCN are highly vulnerable to the neurodegenerative effects of tauopathy in AD, resilient to the neurodegenerative effect of tauopathy in FTLD and apparently resistant to the emergence of proteinopathy in FTLD-TDP and perhaps also in Pick's disease. Investigations are beginning to shed light on the potential mechanisms of this differential vulnerability and their implications for therapeutic intervention.

Metallobiology and therapeutic chelation of biometals (copper, zinc and iron) in Alzheimer's disease: Limitations, and current and future perspectives

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent cause of cognitive impairment and dementia worldwide. The pathobiology of the disease has been studied in the form of several hypotheses, ranging from oxidative stress, amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregation, accumulation of tau forming neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) through metal dysregulation and homeostasis, dysfunction of the cholinergic system, and to inflammatory and autophagic mechanism. However, none of these hypotheses has led to confirmed diagnostics or approved cure for the disease.

OBJECTIVE

This review is aimed as a basic and an encyclopedic short course into metals in AD and discusses the advances in chelation strategies and developments adopted in the treatment of the disease. Since there is accumulating evidence of the role of both biometal dyshomeostasis (iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn)) and metal-amyloid interactions that lead to the pathogenesis of AD, this review focuses on unraveling therapeutic chelation strategies that have been considered in the treatment of the disease, aiming to sequester free and protein-bound metal ions and reducing cerebral metal burden. Promising compounds possessing chemically modified moieties evolving as multi-target ligands used as anti-AD drug candidates are also covered.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Several multidirectional and multifaceted studies on metal chelation therapeutics show the need for improved synthesis, screening, and analysis of compounds to be able to effectively present chelating anti-AD drugs. Most drug candidates studied have limitations in their physicochemical properties; some enhance redistribution of metal ions, while others indirectly activate signaling pathways in AD. The metal chelation process in vivo still needs to be established and the design of potential anti-AD compounds that bi-functionally sequester metal ions as well as inhibit the Aβ aggregation by competing with the metal ions and reducing metal-induced oxidative damage and neurotoxicity may signal a bright end in chelation-based therapeutics of AD.

Alzheimer's Disease: An Overview of Major Hypotheses and Therapeutic Options in Nanotechnology

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressively fatal neurodegenerative disorder, is the most prominent form of dementia found today. Patients suffering from Alzheimer's begin to show the signs and symptoms, like decline in memory and cognition, long after the cellular damage has been initiated in their brain. There are several hypothesis for the neurodegeneration process; however, the lack of availability of in vivo models makes the recapitulation of AD in humans impossible. Moreover, the drugs currently available in the market serve to alleviate the symptoms and there is no cure for the disease. There have been two major hurdles in the process of finding the same-the inefficiency in cracking the complexity of the disease pathogenesis and the inefficiency in delivery of drugs targeted for AD. This review discusses the different drugs that have been designed over the recent years and the drug delivery options in the field of nanotechnology that have been found most feasible in surpassing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and reaching the brain.

Acetylcholine and Spontaneous Recognition Memory in Rodents and Primates

Whilst acetylcholine has long been linked to memory, there have been significant questions about its specific role. In particular, the effects of cholinergic manipulations in primates and rodents has often been at odds. Here, we review the work in primates and rodents on the specific function of acetylcholine in memory, and episodic memory in particular. We propose that patterns of impairment can best be understood in terms of a role for hippocampal acetylcholine in resolving spatial interference and we discuss the benefits of new tasks of episodic memory in animals allowing clearer translation of findings to the clinic.

Saporin from Saponaria officinalis as a Tool for Experimental Research, Modeling, and Therapy in Neuroscience

Saporin, which is extracted from Saponaria officinalis, is a protein toxin that inactivates ribosomes. Saporin itself is non-selective toxin but acquires high specificity after conjugation with different ligands such as signaling peptides or antibodies to some surface proteins expressed in a chosen cell subpopulation. The saporin-based conjugated toxins were widely adopted in neuroscience as a convenient tool to induce highly selective degeneration of desired cell subpopulation. Induction of selective cell death is one of approaches used to model neurodegenerative diseases, study functions of certain cell subpopulations in the brain, and therapy. Here, we review studies where saporin-based conjugates were used to analyze cell mechanisms of sleep, general anesthesia, epilepsy, pain, and development of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Limitations and future perspectives of use of saporin-based toxins in neuroscience are discussed.

Current state of research on non-human primate models of Alzheimer's disease

With the increasingly serious aging of the global population, dementia has already become a severe clinical challenge on a global scale. Dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia observed in the elderly, but its pathogenetic mechanism has still not been fully elucidated. Furthermore, no effective treatment strategy has been developed to date, despite considerable efforts. This can be mainly attributed to the paucity of animal models of AD that are sufficiently similar to humans. Among the presently established animal models, non-human primates share the closest relationship with humans, and their neural anatomy and neurobiology share highly similar characteristics with those of humans. Thus, there is no doubt that these play an irreplaceable role in AD research. Considering this, the present literature on non-human primate models of AD was reviewed to provide a theoretical basis for future research.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Shenmayizhi Decoction Ameliorates Memory And Cognitive Impairment Induced By Scopolamine Via Preventing Hippocampal Cholinergic Dysfunction In Rats

PURPOSE

Clinical trials have illustrated that Shenmayizhi decoction (SMYZ) could improve the cognitive functions in patients with dementia. However, the mechanism needs to be explored.

METHODS

Fifty adult male rats (Wistar strain) were divided into five groups equally and randomly, including control, model, and SMYZ of low dose, medium dose and high dose. Rats in each group received a daily gavage of respective treatment. Rats in control and model group were administrated by the same volume of distilled water. Memory impairment was induced by intraperitoneal administration of scopolamine (0.7 mg/kg) for 5 continuous days. Four weeks later, Morris water maze (MWM) was performed to evaluate the spatial memory in all rats. Then, rats were sacrificed and the hippocampus was removed for further tests. Furthermore, Western blot analysis was employed to assess the levels of acetylcholine M1 receptor (M1), acetylcholine M2 receptor (M2), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and cholineacetyltransferase (ChAT). AChE and ChAT activities were determined.

RESULTS

The SMYZ decoction significantly improved behavioral performance of rats in high dose. The SMYZ decoction in three doses exhibited anti-acetylcholinesterase activity. In addition, a high dose of SMYZ promoted ChAT activity. Moreover, a high dose of SMYZ increased the level of ChAT and declined the level of AChE assessed by Western blotting. Besides, an increased level of M1 receptor was found after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Shenmayizhi decoction could mitigate scopolamine-induced cognitive deficits through the preventative effect on cholinergic system dysfunction.

New Insights on the Role of Manganese in Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease

Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element that is naturally found in the environment and is necessary as a cofactor for many enzymes and is important in several physiological processes that support development, growth, and neuronal function. However, overexposure to Mn may induce neurotoxicity and may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The present review aims to provide new insights into the involvement of Mn in the etiology of AD and PD. Here, we discuss the critical role of Mn in the etiology of these disorders and provide a summary of the proposed mechanisms underlying Mn-induced neurodegeneration. In addition, we review some new therapy options for AD and PD related to Mn overload.

3D Reconstruction of the Neurovascular Unit Reveals Differential Loss of Cholinergic Innervation in the Cortex and Hippocampus of the Adult Mouse Brain

Increasing evidence supports a role for cerebrovasculature dysfunction in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Blood vessels in the brain are composed of a collection of cells and acellular material that comprise the neurovascular unit (NVU). The NVU in the hippocampus and cortex receives innervation from cholinergic neurons that originate in the basal forebrain. Death of these neurons and their nerve fibers is an early feature of AD. However, the effect of the loss of cholinergic innervation on the NVU is not well characterized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the loss of cholinergic innervation of components of the NVU at capillaries, arteries and veins in the hippocampus and cortex. Adult male C57BL/6 mice received an intracerebroventricular injection of the immunotoxin p75NTR mu-saporin to induce the loss of cholinergic neurons. Quadruple labeling immunohistochemistry and 3D reconstruction were carried out to characterize specific points of contact between cholinergic fibers and collagen IV, smooth muscle cells and astrocyte endfeet. Innate differences were observed between vessels of the hippocampus and cortex of control mice, including a greater amount of cholinergic contact with perivascular astrocytes in hippocampal capillaries and a thicker basement membrane in hippocampal veins. Saporin treatment induced a loss of cholinergic innervation at the arterial basement membrane and smooth muscle cells of both the hippocampus and the cortex. In the cortex, there was an additional loss of innervation at the astrocytic endfeet. The current results suggest that cortical arteries are more strongly affected by cholinergic denervation than arteries in the hippocampus. This regional variation may have implications for the etiology of the vascular pathology that develops in AD.

Variations in Acetylcholinesterase Activity within Human Cortical Pyramidal Neurons Across Age and Cognitive Trajectories

We described an extensive network of cortical pyramidal neurons in the human brain with abundant acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Emergence of these neurons during childhood/adolescence, attainment of highest density in early adulthood, and virtual absence in other species led us to hypothesize involvement of AChE within these neurons in higher cortical functions. The current study quantified the density and staining intensity of these neurons using histochemical procedures. Few faintly stained AChE-positive cortical pyramidal neurons were observed in children/adolescents. These neurons attained their highest density and staining intensity in young adulthood. Compared with the young adult group, brains of cognitively normal elderly displayed no significant change in numerical density but a significant decrease in staining intensity of AChE-positive cortical pyramidal neurons. Brains of elderly above age 80 with unusually preserved memory performance (SuperAgers) showed significantly lower staining intensity and density of these neurons when compared with same-age peers. Conceivably, low levels of AChE activity could enhance the impact of acetylcholine on pyramidal neurons to counterbalance other involutional factors that mediate the decline of memory capacity during average aging. We cannot yet tell if elderly with superior memory capacity have constitutively low neuronal AChE levels or if this feature reflects adaptive neuroplasticity.

Dietary choline supplementation in adult rats improves performance on a test of recognition memory

In two experiments adult rats (aged at least 6 months at the start of the procedure) received a diet enriched with added choline for a period of 10 weeks; control subjects were maintained on a standard diet during this time. All rats then underwent the spontaneous object recognition (SOR) procedure in which they were exposed to a pair of objects and then tested, after a retention interval, to a display with one object changed. Exploration of the changed object indicates retention and use of information acquired during the exposure phase. All subjects showed retention with a 24-h interval (Experiments 1 and 2) and when retested after a further 24 h (Experiment 1). But when tested for the first time after a 48-h interval (Experiment 2), control subjects showed no evidence of retention, exploring both objects equally, whereas those given the dietary supplement continued to show a preference for the changed object. This supports the conclusion that dietary choline supplementation can enhance performance on a task regarded as a test of declarative memory, and will do so even when the supplementations is given in adulthood.

Antioxidants Reverse the Changes in the Cholinergic System Caused by L-Tyrosine Administration in Rats

Tyrosinemia type II is an inborn error of metabolism caused by a deficiency in the activity of the enzyme tyrosine aminotransferase, leading to tyrosine accumulation in the body. Although the mechanisms involved are still poorly understood, several studies have showed that higher levels of tyrosine are related to oxidative stress and therefore may affect the cholinergic system. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic administration of L-tyrosine on choline acetyltransferase activity (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the brain of rats. Moreover, we also examined the effects of one antioxidant treatment (N-acetylcysteine (NAC) + deferoxamine (DFX)) on cholinergic system. Our results showed that the chronic administration of L-tyrosine decreases the ChAT activity in the cerebral cortex, while the AChE activity was increased in the hippocampus, striatum, and cerebral cortex. Moreover, we found that the antioxidant treatment was able to prevent the decrease in the ChAT activity in the cerebral cortex. However, the increase in AChE activity induced by L-tyrosine was partially prevented the in the hippocampus and striatum, but not in the cerebral cortex. Our results also showed no differences in the aversive and spatial memory after chronic administration of L-tyrosine. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrated an increase in AChE activity in the hippocampus, striatum, and cerebral cortex and an increase of ChAT in the cerebral cortex, without cognitive impairment. Furthermore, the alterations in the cholinergic system were partially prevented by the co-administration of NAC and DFX. Thus, the restored central cholinergic system by antioxidant treatment further supports the view that oxidative stress may be involved in the pathophysiology of tyrosinemia type II.

Alzheimer's disease hypothesis and related therapies

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause for dementia. There are many hypotheses about AD, including abnormal deposit of amyloid β (Aβ) protein in the extracellular spaces of neurons, formation of twisted fibers of tau proteins inside neurons, cholinergic neuron damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, etc., and many anti-AD drugs based on these hypotheses have been developed. In this review, we will discuss the existing and emerging hypothesis and related therapies.

Is There a Canonical Cortical Circuit for the Cholinergic System? Anatomical Differences Across Common Model Systems

Acetylcholine (ACh) is believed to act as a neuromodulator in cortical circuits that support cognition, specifically in processes including learning, memory consolidation, vigilance, arousal and attention. The cholinergic modulation of cortical processes is studied in many model systems including rodents, cats and primates. Further, these studies are performed in cortical areas ranging from the primary visual cortex to the prefrontal cortex and using diverse methodologies. The results of these studies have been combined into singular models of function-a practice based on an implicit assumption that the various model systems are equivalent and interchangeable. However, comparative anatomy both within and across species reveals important differences in the structure of the cholinergic system. Here, we will review anatomical data including innervation patterns, receptor expression, synthesis and release compared across species and cortical area with a focus on rodents and primates. We argue that these data suggest no canonical cortical model system exists for the cholinergic system. Further, we will argue that as a result, care must be taken both in combining data from studies across cortical areas and species, and in choosing the best model systems to improve our understanding and support of human health.

Alzheimer's disease: Targeting the Cholinergic System

Acetylcholine (ACh) has a crucial role in the peripheral and central nervous systems. The enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is responsible for synthesizing ACh from acetyl-CoA and choline in the cytoplasm and the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) uptakes the neurotransmitter into synaptic vesicles. Following depolarization, ACh undergoes exocytosis reaching the synaptic cleft, where it can bind its receptors, including muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. ACh present at the synaptic cleft is promptly hydrolyzed by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), forming acetate and choline, which is recycled into the presynaptic nerve terminal by the high-affinity choline transporter (CHT1). Cholinergic neurons located in the basal forebrain, including the neurons that form the nucleus basalis of Meynert, are severely lost in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is the most ordinary cause of dementia affecting 25 million people worldwide. The hallmarks of the disease are the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques. However, there is no real correlation between levels of cortical plaques and AD-related cognitive impairment. Nevertheless, synaptic loss is the principal correlate of disease progression and loss of cholinergic neurons contributes to memory and attention deficits. Thus, drugs that act on the cholinergic system represent a promising option to treat AD patients.

Loss of calbindin-D28K is associated with the full range of tangle pathology within basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in Alzheimer's disease

Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCN) are selectively vulnerable in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have shown that most of the BFCN in the human brain contain the calcium-binding protein calbindin-D28K (CB), a large proportion lose their CB in the course of normal aging, and the BFCN which degenerate in AD lack CB. Here, we investigated the relationship between CB in the BFCN and the process of tangle formation in AD using antibodies to tau epitopes that appear early, intermediate or late in the process of tangle formation. Very small percentages (0%-3.7%) of CB-positive BFCN contained pretangles and/or tangles, and very small percentages (0%-5%) of the total BFCN pretangles and/or tangles were in CB-immunoreactive neurons. The number of CB-positive BFCN which contained tau immunoreactivity was highest for the early epitope and lower for intermediate epitopes. A late appearing epitope was absent from CB-positive BFCN. Age-related loss of CB appears to coincide with tangle formation in the BFCN and is associated with the full range of tau pathology, including late appearing epitopes.

Individual variability in visual discrimination and reversal learning performance in common marmosets

Detailed information about the characteristics of learning behavior in marmosets is useful for future marmoset research. We trained 42 marmosets in visual discrimination and reversal learning. All marmosets could learn visual discrimination, and all but one could complete reversal learning, though some marmosets failed to touch the visual stimuli and were screened out. In 87% of measurements, the final percentage of correct responses was over 95%. We quantified performance with two measures: onset trial and dynamic interval. Onset trial represents the number of trials that elapsed before the marmoset started to learn. Dynamic interval represents the number of trials from the start before reaching the final percentage of correct responses. Both measures decreased drastically as a result of the formation of discrimination learning sets. In reversal learning, both measures worsened, but the effect on onset trial was far greater. The effects of age and sex were not significant as far as we used adolescent or young adult marmosets. Unexpectedly, experimental circumstance (in the colony or isolator) had only a subtle effect on performance. However, we found that marmosets from different families exhibited different learning process characteristics, suggesting some family effect on learning.

Long-term effects of maternal deprivation on cholinergic system in rat brain

Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated an association between early stressful life events and adult life psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. In rodents, early life exposure to stressors such as maternal deprivation (MD) produces numerous hormonal, neurochemical, and behavioral changes and is accepted as one of the animal models of schizophrenia. The stress induces acetylcholine (Ach) release in the forebrain and the alterations in cholinergic neurotransmitter system are reported in schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to examine long-term effects of maternal separation on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in different brain structures and the density of cholinergic fibers in hippocampus and retrosplenial (RS) cortex. Wistar rats were separated from their mothers on the postnatal day (P) 9 for 24 h and sacrificed on P60. Control group of rats was bred under the same conditions, but without MD. Brain regions were collected for AChE activity measurements and morphometric analysis. Obtained results showed significant decrease of the AChE activity in cortex and increase in the hippocampus of MD rats. Density of cholinergic fibers was significantly increased in CA1 region of hippocampus and decreased in RS cortex. Our results indicate that MD causes long-term structure specific changes in the cholinergic system.

Basal forebrain activation controls contrast sensitivity in primary visual cortex

BACKGROUND

The basal forebrain (BF) regulates cortical activity by the action of cholinergic projections to the cortex. At the same time, it also sends substantial GABAergic projections to both cortex and thalamus, whose functional role has received far less attention. We used deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the BF, which is thought to activate both types of projections, to investigate the impact of BF activation on V1 neural activity.

RESULTS

BF stimulation robustly increased V1 single and multi-unit activity, led to moderate decreases in orientation selectivity and a remarkable increase in contrast sensitivity as demonstrated by a reduced semi-saturation contrast. The spontaneous V1 local field potential often exhibited spectral peaks centered at 40 and 70 Hz as well as reliably showed a broad γ-band (30-90 Hz) increase following BF stimulation, whereas effects in a low frequency band (1-10 Hz) were less consistent. The broad γ-band, rather than low frequency activity or spectral peaks was the best predictor of both the firing rate increase and contrast sensitivity increase of V1 unit activity.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that BF activation has a strong influence on contrast sensitivity in V1. We suggest that, in addition to cholinergic modulation, the BF GABAergic projections play a crucial role in the impact of BF DBS on cortical activity.

The role of visual cortex acetylcholine in learning to discriminate temporally modulated visual stimuli

Cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain innervate discrete regions of the cortical mantle, bestowing the cholinergic system with the potential to dynamically modulate sub-regions of the cortex according to behavioral demands. Cortical cholinergic activity has been shown to facilitate learning and modulate attention. Experiments addressing these issues have primarily focused on widespread cholinergic depletions, extending to areas involved in general cognitive processes and sleep cycle regulation, making a definitive interpretation of the behavioral role of cholinergic projections difficult. Furthermore, a review of the electrophysiological literature suggests that cholinergic modulation is particularly important in representing the fine temporal details of stimuli, an issue rarely addressed in behavioral experimentation. The goal of this work is to understand the role of cholinergic projections, specific to the sensory cortices, in learning to discriminate fine differences in the temporal structure of stimuli. A novel visual Go/No-Go task was developed to assess the ability of rats to learn to discriminate fine differences in the temporal structure of visual stimuli (lights flashing at various frequencies). The cholinergic contribution to this task was examined by selective reduction of acetylcholine projections to visual cortex (VCx) (using 192 IgG-saporin), either before or after discrimination training. We find that in the face of compromised cholinergic input to the VCx, the rats' ability to learn to perform fine discriminations is impaired, whereas their ability to perform previously learned discriminations remains unaffected. These results suggest that acetylcholine serves the role of facilitating plastic changes in the sensory cortices that are necessary for an animal to refine its sensitivity to the temporal characteristics of relevant stimuli.

Cholinergic control in developing prefrontal-hippocampal networks

The cholinergic drive enhances input processing in attentional and mnemonic context by interacting with the activity of prefrontal-hippocampal networks. During development, acetylcholine modulates neuronal proliferation, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity, yet its contribution to the maturation of cognitive processing resulting from early entrainment of neuronal networks in oscillatory rhythms remains widely unknown. Here we show that cholinergic projections growing into the rat prefrontal cortex (PFC) toward the end of the first postnatal week boost the generation of nested gamma oscillations superimposed on discontinuous spindle bursts by acting on functional muscarinic but not nicotinic receptors. Although electrical stimulation of cholinergic nuclei increased the occurrence of nested gamma spindle bursts by 41%, diminishment of the cholinergic input by either blockade of the receptors or chronic immunotoxic lesion had the opposite effect. This activation of locally generated gamma episodes by direct cholinergic projections to the PFC was accompanied by indirect modulation of underlying spindle bursts via cholinergic control of hippocampal theta activity. With ongoing maturation and switch of network activity from discontinuous bursts to continuous theta-gamma rhythms, accumulating cholinergic projections acting on both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors mediated the transition from high-amplitude slow to low-amplitude fast rhythms in the PFC. By exerting multiple actions on the oscillatory entrainment of developing prefrontal-hippocampal networks, the cholinergic input may refine them for later gating processing in executive and mnemonic tasks.

Age-related loss of calcium buffering and selective neuronal vulnerability in Alzheimer's disease

The reasons for the selective vulnerability of distinct neuronal populations in neurodegenerative disorders are unknown. The cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain are vulnerable to pathology and loss early in Alzheimer's disease and in a number of other neurodegenerative disorders of the elderly. In the primate, including man, these neurons are rich in the calcium buffer calbindin-D(28K). Here, we confirm that these neurons undergo a substantial loss of calbindin in the course of normal aging and report a further loss of calbindin in Alzheimer's disease both at the level of RNA and protein. Significantly, cholinergic neurons that had lost their calbindin in the course of normal aging were those that selectively degenerated in Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, calbindin-containing neurons were virtually resistant to the process of tangle formation, a hallmark of the disease. We conclude that the loss of calcium buffering capacity in these neurons and the resultant pathological increase in intracellular calcium are permissive to tangle formation and degeneration.

Cortical map plasticity improves learning but is not necessary for improved performance

Cortical map plasticity is believed to be a key substrate of perceptual and skill learning. In the current study, we quantified changes in perceptual ability after pairing tones with stimulation of the cholinergic nucleus basalis to induce auditory cortex map plasticity outside of a behavioral context. Our results provide evidence that cortical map plasticity can enhance perceptual learning. However, auditory cortex map plasticity fades over weeks even though tone discrimination performance remains stable. This observation is consistent with recent reports that cortical map expansions associated with perceptual and motor learning are followed by a period of map renormalization without a decrement in performance. Our results indicate that cortical map plasticity enhances perceptual learning, but is not necessary to maintain improved discriminative ability.

Involvement of the cholinergic system in conditioning and perceptual memory

The cholinergic systems play a pivotal role in learning and memory, and have been the centre of attention when it comes to diseases containing cognitive deficits. It is therefore not surprising, that the cholinergic transmitter system has experienced detailed examination of its role in numerous behavioural situations not least with the perspective that cognition may be rescued with appropriate cholinergic 'boosters'. Here we reviewed the literature on (i) cholinergic lesions, (ii) pharmacological intervention of muscarinic or nicotinic system, or (iii) genetic deletion of selective receptor subtypes with respect to sensory discrimination and conditioning procedures. We consider visual, auditory, olfactory and somatosensory processing first before discussing more complex tasks such as startle responses, latent inhibition, negative patterning, eye blink and fear conditioning, and passive avoidance paradigms. An overarching reoccurring theme is that lesions of the cholinergic projection neurones of the basal forebrain impact negatively on acquisition learning in these paradigms and blockade of muscarinic (and to a lesser extent nicotinic) receptors in the target structures produce similar behavioural deficits. While these pertain mainly to impairments in acquisition learning, some rare cases extend to memory consolidation. Such single case observations warranted replication and more in-depth studies. Intriguingly, receptor blockade or receptor gene knockout repeatedly produced contradictory results (for example in fear conditioning) and combined studies, in which genetically altered mice are pharmacological manipulated, are so far missing. However, they are desperately needed to clarify underlying reasons for these contradictions. Consistently, stimulation of either muscarinic (mainly M(1)) or nicotinic (predominantly α7) receptors was beneficial for learning and memory formation across all paradigms supporting the notion that research into the development and mechanisms of novel and better cholinomimetics may prove useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative or psychiatric disorders with cognitive endophenotypes.

MRI-based volumetric measurement of the substantia innominata in amnestic MCI and mild AD

The substantia innominata (SI) contains the nucleus basalis of Meynert, which provides the major cholinergic innervation to the entire cortical mantel and the amygdala; degeneration of nucleus basalis neurons correlates with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, whether SI atrophy occurs in individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) has not been examined thoroughly in vivo. In the present study, we developed a new protocol to measure volumetric changes in the SI from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Participants consisted of 27 elderly controls with no cognitive impairment (NCI); 33 individuals with aMCI; and 19 patients with mild AD. SI volumes were traced on three consecutive gapless 1mm thick coronal slices. Results showed that SI volume was significantly reduced in the mild AD group compared to both NCI and aMCI participants; however, the NCI and aMCI groups did not differ from each other. Furthermore, a decrease in SI volume was related to impaired performance on declarative memory tasks even when attention was controlled.

RACK1 is involved in β-amyloid impairment of muscarinic regulation of GABAergic transmission

RACK1 (receptor for activated C-kinase 1), an anchoring protein that shuttles activated PKC to cellular membranes, plays an important role in PKC-mediated signal transduction pathways. A significant loss of RACK1 has been found in the brain of aging animals and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, which implicates the potential involvement of RACK1 in altered PKC activation associated with dementia. Our previous studies have demonstrated that GABAergic inhibition in prefrontal cortex, which is important for cognitive processes like "working memory", is regulated by muscarinic receptors via a PKC-dependent mechanism, and this effect is impaired by β-amyloid peptide (Aβ). In this study, we found that Aβ oligomers decreased RACK1 distribution in the membrane fraction of cortical neurons. Moreover, overexpression of RACK1 rescued the effect of muscarinic receptors on GABAergic transmission in Aβ-treated cortical cultures in vitro and Aβ-injected cortical neurons in vivo. These results suggest that the Aβ-induced loss of RACK1 distribution in the cell membrane may underlie the Aβ impairment of muscarinic regulation of PKC and GABAergic transmission. Thus, RACK1 provides a potential therapeutic target that can restore some of the impaired cellular processes by Aβ.

The septo-hippocampal system, learning and recovery of function

We understand this review as an attempt to summarize recent advances in the understanding of cholinergic function in cognition. Such a role has been highlighted in the 1970s by the discovery that dementia patients have greatly reduced cholinergic activity in cortex and hippocampus. A brief anatomical description of the major cholinergic pathways focuses on the basal forebrain and its projections to cortex and hippocampus. From this distinction, compelling evidence suggests that the basal forebrain --> cortex projection regulates the excitability of principal cortical neurons and is thereby critically involved in attention, stimulus detection and memory function, although the biological conditions for these functions are still debated. Similar uncertainties remain for the septo-hippocampal cholinergic system. Although initial lesions of the septum caused memory deficits reminiscent of hippocampal ablations, recent and more refined neurotoxic lesion studies which spared non-cholinergic cells of the basal forebrain failed to confirm these memory impairments in experimental animals despite a near total loss of cholinergic labeling. Yet, a decline in cholinergic markers in aging and dementia still stands as the most central piece of evidence for a link between the cholinergic system and cognition and appear to provide valuable targets for therapeutic approaches.

Cholinergic neuronal and axonal abnormalities are present early in aging and in Alzheimer disease

A large body of evidence indicates that basal forebrain cholinergic neurons are selectively vulnerable to degeneration early in Alzheimer disease (AD). Recent studies, however, demonstrate reductions in cortical activity of the cholinergic enzyme choline acetyltransferase only in late stages of AD. To address this apparent contradiction, we compared abnormalities in magnocellular basal forebrain cholinergic neurons and their axons in nondemented young (<65 years; n = 6), nondemented old (>65 years; n = 7), pathologically mild (n = 5), and pathologically severe (n = 5) AD cases. Cholinergic axon abnormalities (i.e. thickened fibers and ballooned terminals) were evident in nondemented middle-aged cases, increased in nondemented old cases, and reduced in density in severe AD. This suggests that loss of cortical cholinergic axons in AD occurs preferentially in fibers with these abnormalities. Paired helical filament 1-immunoreactive pretangles and tangles were observed as early as the third decade prior to their appearance in entorhinal/perirhinal cortex; they were increased in mild and severe AD. These results indicate that basal forebrain cholinergic neuron abnormalities are present very early in aging and in the course of AD. Therefore, despite the morphologic alterations, choline acetyltransferase activity, but not necessarily normal neuron functions, may be preserved.

Postnatal development of the cholinergic innervation in the dorsal hippocampus of rat: Quantitative light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical study

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunocytochemistry was used to examine the distribution and ultrastructural features of the acetylcholine (ACh) innervation in the dorsal hippocampus of postnatal rat. The length of ChAT-immunostained axons was measured and the number of ChAT-immunostained varicosities counted, in each layer of CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus, at postnatal ages P8, P16, and P32. At P8, an elaborate network of varicose ChAT-immunostained axons was already visible. At P16, the laminar distribution of this network resembled that in the adult, but adult densities were reached only by P32. Between P8 and P32, the mean densities for the three regions increased from 8.4 to 14 meters of axons and 2.3 to 5.7 million varicosities per cubic millimeter of tissue. At the three postnatal ages, the ultrastructural features of ChAT-immunostained axon varicosities from the strata pyramidale and radiatum of CA1 were similar between layers and comparable to those in adult, except for an increasing frequency of mitochondria (up to 41% at P32). The proportion of these profiles displaying a synaptic junction was equally low at all ages, indicating an average synaptic incidence of 7% for whole varicosities, as previously found in adult. The observed junctions were small, usually symmetrical, and made mostly with dendritic branches. These results demonstrate the precocious and rapid maturation of the hippocampal cholinergic innervation and reveal its largely asynaptic nature as soon as it is formed. They emphasize the remarkable growth capacities of individual ACh neurons and substantiate a role for diffuse transmission by ACh during hippocampal development.

Lesions of the basal forebrain impair reversal learning but not shifting of attentional set in rats

The cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain, which project to cortex, the thalamic reticular nucleus and the amygdala, are implicated in many aspects of attentional function, while the intrinsic neurons of the basal forebrain are implicated in learning and memory. This study compared the effects of lesions of the basal forebrain made with either the immunotoxin 192-IgG-saporin (which selectively destroys cholinergic neurons), or the non-selective excitotoxin, ibotenic acid (which destroys both cholinergic and non-cholinergic neurons) on a task which measure the acquisition and shifting of attentional set as well as the ability to learn reversals of specific stimulus-reward pairings. Rats learned to obtain food reward by digging in small bowls containing distinctive digging media that were differentially scented with distinct odours. They performed a series of two-choice discriminations, with the bait associated with either the odour or the digging medium. Rats with 192-IgG-saporin lesions of the basal forebrain were not impaired relative to control rats at any stage of the task. Rats with ibotenic acid lesions of the basal forebrain were impaired the first time stimulus-reward contingencies were reversed. They were not impaired in acquisition of new discriminations, even when an attentional-shift was required. These data are consistent with data from marmosets and so highlight the functional similarity of monkey and rodent basal forebrain. They also confirm the likely involvement of non-cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain in reversal learning.

Differential Regulation of Fronto-Executive Function by the Monoamines and Acetylcholine

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is innervated by the monoamines, dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), and serotonin, as well as acetylcholine, and the marked influence of these neurochemical systems on prefrontal working memory processes has been widely described. However, their potentially, differential contribution to prefrontal functioning is less well understood. This paper reviews evidence to support the hypothesis that these neurochemical systems recruit distinct fronto-executive operations. Direct comparison of the effects of manipulations of these neuromodulators within PFC on performance of an attentional set-shifting paradigm reveals their differential contribution to distinct task stages. Depletion of prefrontal serotonin selectively disrupts reversal learning but not attentional set formation or set shifting. In contrast, depletion of prefrontal DA disrupts set formation but not reversal learning. NA depletion on the other hand specifically impairs set-shifting, whereas its effects on reversal learning remain unclear. Finally, depletion of prefrontal acetylcholine has no effect on either set formation or set shifting but impairs serial reversal learning. Because these neurochemical systems are known to represent distinct states of stress, arousal, attention, and affect, it is postulated that they augment the different types of executive operation that are recruited and performed within these states via a synergistic interaction with the PFC.

Muscarinic receptors control frequency tuning through the downregulation of an A-type potassium current

The functional role of cholinergic input in the modulation of sensory responses was studied using a combination of in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology supplemented by mathematical modeling. The electrosensory system of weakly electric fish recognizes different environmental stimuli by their unique alteration of a self-generated electric field. Variations in the patterns of stimuli are primarily distinguished based on their frequency. Pyramidal neurons in the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL) are often tuned to respond to specific input frequencies. Alterations in the tuning of the pyramidal neurons may allow weakly electric fish to preferentially select for certain stimuli. Here we show that muscarinic receptor activation in vivo enhances the excitability, burst firing, and subsequently the response of pyramidal cells to naturalistic sensory input. Through a combination of in vitro electrophysiology and mathematical modeling, we reveal that this enhanced excitability and bursting likely results from the down-regulation of an A-type potassium current. Further, we provide an explanation of the mechanism by which these currents can mediate frequency tuning.

Functional characterization of intrinsic cholinergic interneurons in the cortex

Acetylcholine is a major neurotransmitter that modulates cortical functions. In addition to basal forebrain neurons that give rise to the principal cholinergic input into the cortex, a second source constituted by intrinsic cholinergic interneurons has been identified. Although these cells have been characterized anatomically, little is known about their functional role in cortical microcircuits. The paucity of this cell population has been a major hindrance for detailed electrophysiological investigations. To facilitate functional studies, we generated transgenic mice that express enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-positive neurons. Aided by the transgene expression, the characterization of distinct cholinergic interneurons was possible. These cells were located in layer 2-3, had a bipolar morphology, were calretinin- and vasoactive intestinal peptide positive, but had a non-GABAergic phenotype. Paired recordings showed that EGFP/ChAT-positive neurons receive excitatory and inhibitory input from adjacent principal cells and various types of interneurons. However, EGFP/ChAT-positive neurons do not exert direct postsynaptic responses in neighboring neurons. Interestingly, prolonged activation of EGFP-labeled cholinergic neurons induces an increase in spontaneous EPSCs in adjacent pyramidal neurons. This indirect effect is mediated by nicotinic receptors that are presumably presynaptically localized. Thus, intrinsic bipolar cholinergic neurons can modulate cortical function locally.

Disorders of learning and memory processes in a monkey model of Alzheimer’s disease: The role of the associative area of the cerebral cortex

The processes of learning and storage of the results of learning were studied in a model of Alzheimer's disease in two groups of rhesus macaques (three individuals in each group). Studies were performed after injection of neurotoxins (group I) and physiological saline (group II, controls). Two months after injections (stage C1), learning parameters were studied in monkeys of both groups using a new stimulus discrimination test (filled geometrical figures versus outline figures). There were significant differences between the animals of the two groups. Learning was hindered in monkeys of group I, with significant increases in the learning time (the time to achieve a stable probability of correct responding of 0.85) and in the probability of refusals. Monkeys of group II showed no learning impairment. Animals were trained to discriminate new stimuli (images of two monkeys) six months after injections (stage C3). Learning was impaired in animals of group I, such that learning measures had the same levels as previously; monkeys of group II showed no learning impairment. Analysis of the characteristics of working memory, which is involved in storing the results of new learning, was performed at stage C1; monkeys of group I showed significant degradation of these measures, with a significant decrease in the probability of correct solutions at stage C1 (to a level of 0.5), with some increase at stages C2 (at four months) and C3, along with a significant increase in the probability of refusals, values being similar at all time points. For monkeys of group II, these characteristics showed no degradation. Motor response times at stages C1, C2, and C3 were not different for the two groups of monkeys. The structural-functional organization of interactions between sensory and cognitive processes during learning and the storage of information in working memory are discussed, as is the role of the associative areas of the cortex in these interactions.

Selective lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis impair cognitive flexibility

The authors tested the hypothesis that the cholinergic nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) is involved in solving problems requiring cognitive flexibility. Rats with 192 IgG-saporin lesions of the NBM were assessed for perseveration (i.e., cognitive inflexibility) in the serial reversal of an operant discrimination and during subsequent extinction testing. It was hypothesized that the NBM lesion and control groups would not differ in the acquisition of the initial, simple discrimination, because this task does not demand cognitive flexibility. In contrast, it was hypothesized that the NBM lesion group would show perseveration during serial reversal and extinction testing. Results generally supported these hypotheses, suggesting that the NBM plays an important role in mediating cognitive flexibility.

Postnatal exposure to diisopropylfluorophosphate enhances discrimination learning in adult mice

Visual discrimination and reversal learning were tested in adult C57Bl/6 mice that had been treated on postnatal days (PND) 4-10 with diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. DFP-treated mice attained the learning criterion in the Y maze significantly earlier than saline-treated mice. Female mice treated with DFP showed a more rapid decline in errors in the initial discrimination task, compared to female mice treated with saline. There was no effect of DFP treatment on learning the reverse discrimination. The data suggest that long-lasting effects of treatment with an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor can improve discrimination learning, similarly to the improvement reported by acute administration in adults.

Cytoskeletal Transport in the Aging Brain: Focus on the Cholinergic System

There is now compelling evidence for the aging-related breakdown of cytoskeletal support in neurons. Similarly affected are the principal components of the intracellular microtubule system, the transport units involved in active shuttle of organelles and molecules in an antero- and retrograde manner, and the proteins stabilizing the cytoskeleton and providing trophic support. Here, we review the basic organization of the cytoskeleton, and describe its elements and their interactions. We then critically assess the role of these cytoskeletal proteins in physiological aging and aging-related malfunction. Our focus is on the microtubule-associated protein tau, for which comprehensive investigations suggest a critical role in neurodegenerative diseases, for instance tauopathies. These diseases frequently lead to cognitive decline and are often paralleled by reductions in cholinergic neurotransmission. We propose this reduction to be due to destabilization of the cytoskeleton and protein transport mechanisms in these neurons. Therefore, maintenance of the neuronal cytoskeleton during aging may prevent or delay neurodegeneration as well as cognitive decline during physiological aging.