title: Over-expression of two different forms of the alpha-secretase ADAM10 affects learning and memory in mice.
abstract: Members of the ADAM family (adisintegrin and metalloprotease) are the main candidates for physiologically relevant alpha-secretases. The alpha-secretase cleaves in the non-amyloidogenic pathway the amyloid precursor protein within the region of the Abeta peptides preventing their aggregation in the brain. The increase of alpha-secretase activity in the brain provides a plausible strategy to prevent Abeta formation. Concerning this possibility two transgenic mouse lines (FVB/N) have been created: mice over-expressing the bovine form of the alpha-secretase (ADAM10) and mice over-expressing an inactive form of the alpha-secretase (ADAM10-E348A-HA; ADAM10-dn). For behavioral examination a F1 generation of transgenic mice (C57Bl/6 x FVB/N (tg)) was generated and compared to wild type F1 generation (C57Bl/6 x FVB/N). Behavior was characterized in the following tasks: standard open field, enriched open field, elevated plus-maze, and the Morris water maze hidden platform task. Concerning basal activity, exploration, and anxiety, transgenic mice behaved similar to controls. With respect to learning and memory both transgenic lines showed a significant deficit compared to controls. ADAM10 mice however, showed thigmotaxis with passive floating behavior in the Morris water maze indicating differences in motivation, whereas, ADAM10-dn mice displayed an inconspicuous but limited goal-directed search pattern. Thus variation of the enzymatic activity of alpha-secretase ADAM10 alters learning and memory differentially. Nevertheless, it could be concluded that both, ADAM10 and ADAM10-dn mice are suitable control mice for the assessment of alpha-secretase-related effects in animal models of Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55101 Mainz, Germany. schmitt@psychiatrie.klinik.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hiemke
authors.forename: Falk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fahrenholz
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schroeder
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072197:ADAM10 Protein; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000201:enzymology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009042:Motivation
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000072197:ADAM10 Protein; C491234:Adam10 protein, mouse