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Lippi SLP, Barkey RE, Rodriguez MN. High-fat diet negatively affects brain markers, cognitive behaviors, and noncognitive behaviors in the rTg4510 tau mouse model. Physiol Behav 2023; 271:114316. [PMID: 37543107 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) drastically impacts cognitive and noncognitive behaviors in both humans and animal models. Two hallmark proteins in AD, amyloid-β plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles, accumulate in regions of the brain critical for learning and memory, including the hippocampus. Poor dietary choices have been shown to exacerbate cognitive deficits seen in AD. In this study, we assessed the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD - 60 kcal% fat) on cognitive & noncognitive behaviors as well as on brain markers in the rTg4510 tau mouse model. While all mice learned the Morris Water Maze (MWM) task, it was noted that on the last day of acquisition female tau mice had a significantly higher latency to find the platform than male tau mice (p < 0.01). Mice given the HFD spent significantly less time in the target quadrant than those given a control diet (CD) (p < 0.05). Tau mice showed impaired burrowing (p < 0.05) and nesting behaviors (p < 0.001) compared to WT mice and HFD administration worsened burrowing in tau mice. Tau mice exhibited greater levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) (p < 0.05) and significantly less hippocampal cell density than WT mice (p < 0.001). We observed trends of HFD mice having greater levels of GFAP and greater average tangle size than CD mice. These results highlight the importance of dietary choices, especially in older populations more susceptible to AD and its effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen L P Lippi
- University of Texas at San Antonio, Dept. Psychology, San Antonio, TX 78249, United States.
| | - Rachel E Barkey
- Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Dept. Neural and Behavioral Sciences, 700 HMC Crescent Road, Hershey, PA 17033, United States
| | - Mya N Rodriguez
- MD Anderson UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 6767 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX 77030, United States
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Dimopoulos TT, Lippi SLP, Davila JF, Barkey RE, Doherty EN, Flinn JM. White Button Mushroom ( Agaricus bisporus) Supplementation Ameliorates Spatial Memory Deficits and Plaque Formation in an Amyloid Precursor Protein Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12101364. [PMID: 36291298 PMCID: PMC9599624 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12101364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive impairment and the presence of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau tangles. This study was conducted to assess the effects of white button mushroom (WBM) supplementation on spatial memory and plaque formation in mice with mutations in amyloid (Aβ). Mice with amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) mutations and their wildtype (WT) littermates were fed a 10% white button mushroom (WBM) feed ad libitum three times per week, in addition to their normal diet. Morris water maze (MWM) was conducted at 14 and 32 weeks of age to assess spatial memory and Aβ plaque pathology in the hippocampus was analyzed. Our results showed that hAPP mice on the WBM diet were faster in reaching the platform in the MWM compared to hAPP mice on the control diet at 32 weeks (p < 0.05). Significantly fewer plaque deposits were found in the hippocampi of hAPP mice on the WBM diet compared to those on the control diet at 32 weeks (p < 0.05). Overall, hAPP mice on the WBM diet had improved spatial memory at 32 weeks of age compared to those on the control diet and exhibited fewer amyloid plaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalia T. Dimopoulos
- Department of Psychology, Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Stephen L. P. Lippi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | | | - Rachel E. Barkey
- Department of Psychology, Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Erin N. Doherty
- Department of Psychology, Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Jane M. Flinn
- Department of Psychology, Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- Correspondence:
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Lippi SLP, Neely CLC, Amaya AL. Trace concentrations, heavy implications: Influences of biometals on major brain pathologies of Alzheimer's disease. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2021; 143:106136. [PMID: 34906694 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2021.106136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition that involves accumulation of toxic protein species, notably amyloid-β (Aβ)plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles that are associated with cognitive decline. These proteins can bind metal ions, ultimately affecting their structure and function. In this review, we discuss key biometals such as zinc, copper, and iron that interact with protein species involved in AD, mainly Aβ, tau, and the late-onset AD risk factor Apolipoprotein E (APOE). These metals interact with Aβ and tau proteins, affecting their aggregation and toxicity. The allele variants of APOE also have different interactions with these metals, affecting APOE protein expression and aggregation of AD protein species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen L P Lippi
- Angelo State University, Department of Psychology, San Angelo, TX, USA.
| | - Caroline L C Neely
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anthony L Amaya
- University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of Chemistry, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Lippi SLP, Kakalec PA, Smith ML, Flinn JM. Wheel-Running Behavior Is Negatively Impacted by Zinc Administration in a Novel Dual Transgenic Mouse Model of AD. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:854. [PMID: 32922260 PMCID: PMC7456872 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurocognitive disorder that impacts both the brain and behavior. Metal ions, including zinc (Zn), have been seen to play an important role in AD-related pathology. In this study, we show alterations in wheel-running behavior both early and late in disease progression in a novel dual Tg mouse model of AD. This mouse includes both amyloid and tau pathology through its cross with the J20 (hAPP) and P301L (Tau) parentage. Animals were given either lab water or water that had been supplemented with 10 ppm Zn. Wheel running was assessed through individually housing mice and measuring wheel-running activity in both the light and dark cycles. Dual Tg mice showed significantly less activity in the first part of the dark cycle than WT mice at both 3.5 and 7 months of age (p < 0.05). Dual Tg mice given Zn water showed less activity compared to dual Tg mice on lab water, tau mice on Zn water, or WT mice given either lab or Zn water (p < 0.05) at 7 months. Female mice in this study consistently showed higher activity compared to male mice in all groups whereas Zn led to reduced activity. Daily activity rhythm was altered in both the tau and dual Tg mice, and Zn impacted this alteration through effects on amyloid, tau, and through circadian pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jane M Flinn
- George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
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Neely CLC, Lippi SLP, Lanzirotti A, Flinn JM. Localization of Free and Bound Metal Species through X-Ray Synchrotron Fluorescence Microscopy in the Rodent Brain and Their Relation to Behavior. Brain Sci 2019; 9:brainsci9040074. [PMID: 30925761 PMCID: PMC6523809 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9040074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Biometals in the brain, such as zinc, copper, and iron, are often discussed in cases of neurological disorders; however, these metals also have important regulatory functions and mediate cell signaling and plasticity. With the use of synchrotron X-ray fluorescence, our lab localized total, both bound and free, levels of zinc, copper, and iron in a cross section of one hemisphere of a rat brain, which also showed differing metal distributions in different regions within the hippocampus, the site in the brain known to be crucial for certain types of memory. This review discusses the several roles of these metals in brain regions with an emphasis on hippocampal cell signaling, based on spatial mapping obtained from X-ray fluorescence microscopy. We also discuss the localization of these metals and emphasize different cell types and receptors in regions with metal accumulation, as well as the potential relationship between this physiology and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline L C Neely
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA.
| | - Stephen L P Lippi
- Department of Psychology & Sociology, Angelo State University, 2601 W. Avenue N, ASU Station #10907, San Angelo, TX 76909, USA.
| | - Antonio Lanzirotti
- Center for Advanced Radiation Sources, University of Chicago, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439, USA.
| | - Jane M Flinn
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA.
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Lippi SLP, Craven KM, Hernandez CM, Grant GM, Flinn JM. Perfusion alters free zinc levels in the rodent brain. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 315:14-16. [PMID: 30599147 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fixation of brain tissue is a common practice which allows preservation of tissue and aids in preventing structural and chemical abnormalities. However, fixation procedures may disrupt the levels of biometals such as zinc when compared to tissue that is fresh-frozen. Thus, we sought to determine if any differences in free-zinc levels exist between perfused and fresh-frozen tissue. Zinc is an essential biometal critical for cellular communication and memory and exists in both bound and free forms; the latter playing critical roles in synaptic communication. New method: C57BL/6 J mice were divided into two water types: those given lab water and those given water supplemented with 10 ppm zinc carbonate. Perfusion was carried out with 4% paraformaldehyde on half of the animals in each water group to assess the impact on levels of free Zn as measured through Zinpyr-1 fluorescence. RESULTS There were significant differences in Zn fluorescence values between Zn-supplemented and lab water groups as well as between perfused and fresh-frozen tissues in the dentate gyrus and CA3 regions of the hippocampus, regions critical in learning & memory. Comparison with existing methods: These results show that when determining a method for euthanasia, any future histological techniques involving assessment of metal content should first be considered. CONCLUSIONS Researchers must be cautious with the way in which tissue is collected and treated since this can lead to misleading conclusions when linking changes in behavior and relative levels of trace metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L P Lippi
- Now at Angelo State University, Dept. Psychology & Sociology, ASU Station #10907, 2601 W Ave N, San Angelo, TX, 76909, United States
| | - K M Craven
- Dept. Psychology, Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, United States
| | - C M Hernandez
- Dept. Psychology, Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, United States
| | - G M Grant
- Dept. Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, United States
| | - J M Flinn
- Dept. Psychology, Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, United States.
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Lippi SLP, Smith ML, Flinn JM. A Novel hAPP/htau Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease: Inclusion of APP With Tau Exacerbates Behavioral Deficits and Zinc Administration Heightens Tangle Pathology. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:382. [PMID: 30524268 PMCID: PMC6263092 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The brains of those with Alzheimer's disease have amyloid and tau pathology; thus, mice modeling AD should have both markers. In this study, we characterize offspring from the cross of the J20 (hAPP) and rTg4510 (htau) strains (referred to as dual Tg). Behavior was assessed at both 3.5 and 7 months, and biochemical differences were assessed at 8 months. Additionally, mice were placed on zinc (Zn) water or standard lab water in order to determine the role of this essential biometal. Behavioral measures examined cognition, emotion, and aspects of daily living. Transgenic mice (dual Tg and htau) showed significant deficits in spatial memory in the Barnes Maze at both 3.5 and 7 months compared to controls. At 7 months, dual Tg mice performed significantly worse than htau mice (p < 0.01). Open field and elevated zero maze (EZM) data indicated that dual Tg and htau mice displayed behavioral disinhibition compared to control mice at both 3.5 and 7 months (p < 0.001). Transgenic mice showed significant deficits in activities of daily living, including burrowing and nesting, at both 3.5 and 7 months compared to control mice (p < 0.01). Dual Tg mice built very poor nests, indicating that non-cognitive tasks are also impacted by AD. Overall, dual Tg mice demonstrated behavioral deficits earlier than those shown by the htau mice. In the brain, dual Tg mice had significantly less free Zn compared to control mice in both the dentate gyrus and the CA3 of the hippocampus (p < 0.01). Dual Tg mice had increased tangles and plaques in the hippocampus compared to htau mice and the dual Tg mice given Zn water displayed increased tangle pathology in the hippocampus compared to htau mice on Zn water (p < 0.05). The dual Tg mouse described here displays pathology reminiscent of the human AD condition and is impaired early on in both cognitive and non-cognitive behaviors. This new mouse model allows researchers to assess how both amyloid and tau in combination impact behavior and brain pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen L P Lippi
- Psychology Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
| | - Meghann L Smith
- Psychology Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
| | - Jane M Flinn
- Psychology Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
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