In vivo axonal transport rates decrease in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
Axonopathy is a pronounced attribute of many neurodegenerative diseases. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), axonal swellings and degeneration are prevalent and may contribute to the symptoms of AD senile dementia. Current limitations in identifying the contribution of axonal damage to AD include the inability to detect when this damage occurs in relation to other identifiers of AD because of the invasiveness of existing methods. To overcome this, we further developed the MRI methodology Manganese Enhanced MRI (MEMRI) to assess in vivo axonal transport rates. Prior to amyloid-beta (Abeta) deposition, the axonal transport rates in the Tg2576 mouse model of AD were normal. As Abeta levels increased and before plaque formation, we observed a significant decrease in axonal transport rates of the Tg2576 mice compared to controls. After plaque formation, the decline in the transport rate in the Tg2576 mice became even more pronounced. These data indicate that in vivo axonal transport rates decrease prior to plaque formation in the Tg2576 mouse model of AD.
Smith
Karen Dell Brown
KD
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Kallhoff
Verena
V
Zheng
Hui
H
Pautler
Robia G
RG
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D007700:Kinetics; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008345:Manganese / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D008345:Manganese; D003078:Colchicine