title: Perineuronal nets are largely unaffected in Alzheimer model Tg2576 mice.
abstract: Changes in the molecular organization of the extracellular matrix are key factors in neuropathology. We investigated aggrecan-based perineuronal nets (PNs) in relation to neurodegeneration and activation of glial cells in a transgenic mouse (Tg2576) model of Alzheimer's disease. The formation of amyloid plaques in the cerebral cortex occurred independently of the area-specific distribution of PNs. Matrix components were only affected in the core of plaques in advanced stages of pathology. PNs remained unchanged in the large marginal zone occupied by reactive astrocytic processes. We conclude that the aggrecan-based extracellular matrix of PNs is not enzymatically altered in peripheral plaque territories and is only removed after neuronal death.
authors.affiliation: Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Jahnallee 59, D-04109 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morawski
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pavlica
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seeger
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grosche
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kouznetsova
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schliebs
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brückner
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arendt
mesh_terms: D053674:Aggrecans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013379:Substrate Specificity / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D053674:Aggrecans; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid