Impaired Pavlovian cued fear conditioning in Tg2576 mice expressing a human mutant amyloid precursor protein gene.
The processing of emotional and/or fear-related events is abnormal in patients with Alzheimer's disease. AD is accompanied by a number of neuropathological features, one of which is the deposition of amyloid plaques. The main aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a human amyloid precursor protein mutation on both the acquisition and expression of fear conditioning in Tg2576 mice. Sixteen-month-old, but not 4-month-old, transgenic mice showed aberrations in post-shock freezing during training. In a retention test carried out 24 h after training, Tg2576 mice showed comparable levels of conditioned fear elicited by contextual cues. However, freezing elicited by a tone conditioned stimulus was impaired in 16-month-old but not 4-month-old Tg2576 mice. The results are discussed with reference to the role of cue competition (overshadowing) in revealing fear conditioning deficits in Tg2576 mice.
Barnes
Philip
P
School of Psychology, Cardiff University, P.O. Box 901, Cardiff CF10 3YG, UK.
Good
Mark
M
D000367:Age Factors; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D046352:Freezing Reaction, Cataleptic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation; D010470:Perceptual Masking / Q000502:physiology; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology
D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor