Early locus coeruleus degeneration and olfactory dysfunctions in Tg2576 mice.
Olfactory deficiency has been reported in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in humans but is very poorly understood due to the lack of investigations in animal models of AD. Recent studies point to the noradrenergic system as an important target of the AD pathological process. In addition, noradrenalin has been shown to influence adult neurogenesis which is implicated in cognitive functions. We have therefore investigated the olfactory neurogenesis and cognitive performances in young transgenic Tg2576 mice in relation with the status of the noradrenergic and the cholinergic systems. Tg2576 showed a deficit in neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb evidenced by an increased death of newborn cells and a reduced expression of PSA-NCAM. The locus coeruleus degenerated in Tg2576 between the age of 6.5 and 8 months. These changes were associated with olfactory memory impairments. Our findings indicate that a noradrenergic deficiency could play a role in the early stages of the pathological process in this transgenic model and induce olfactory cognitive impairments through an alteration of olfactory neurogenesis.
Guérin
Delphine
D
Laboratoire de Neuroscience et Systèmes Sensoriels, Université de Lyon, F-69007 Lyon, France.
Sacquet
Joëlle
J
Mandairon
Nathalie
N
Jourdan
François
F
Didier
Anne
A
D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*
D039842:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1; D012794:Sialic Acids; C103469:polysialyl neural cell adhesion molecule