title: Age-dependent loss of dentate gyrus granule cells in APP/PS1KI mice.
abstract: Loss of neurons in the hippocampus and other brain regions is, besides the occurrence of plaques and tangles, a neuropathological feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In recent years a plethora of transgenic mouse models overexpressing mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP) has been developed, which represent valuable research tools. Whereas extracellular plaque pathology is a common feature of these models, neuronal loss is a rather rare characteristic. In the present study, we quantified the number of neurons in the dentate gyrus granule layer (GCL) in 2- and 12-month-old APP/PS1KI mice, a mouse model that has been previously shown to have significant loss of neurons in the CA1 layer of the hippocampus. Stereological analysis revealed a strongly significant decrease of GCLs in aged APP/PS1KI mice, compared to age-matched PS1KI control animals (-44%), however, the volume of the GCL was not different.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Psychiatry and Alzheimer Ph.D. Graduate School, Department of Psychiatry, University of Goettingen, von-Siebold-Strasse 5, Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Marie-Caroline
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cotel
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bayer
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wirths
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D053764:Presenilin-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D053764:Presenilin-1