title: Activity-induced dendrite and dendritic spine development in human amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice.
abstract: The amyloid precursor protein is essential for proper neuronal function but an imbalance in processing or metabolism or its overexpression lead to severe malfunction of the brain. The present study focused on dendritic morphology of hippocampal neurons in mice overexpressing the wild-type human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP). In addition, we examined whether enhanced physical activity may affect hAPP-related morphological changes. Overexpression of hAPP resulted in significant enlargement of dendrites, especially within the basal dendritic field but had no effect on spine density. Enhanced physical activity only moderately potentiated hAPP induced changes in dendritic size. Physical activity dependent increases in spine density were, however, augmented by hAPP overexpression. The results suggest that enhanced levels of wild-type hAPP do not result in degenerative changes of neuronal morphology, but rather promote dendritic growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University Medical School, Tűzoltó u. 58, H-1450 Budapest, Hungary. dralpar@gmx.net
authors.forename: Alán
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alpár
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ueberham
authors.forename: Dávid
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lendvai
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naumann
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rohn
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gáti
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arendt
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gärtner
mesh_terms: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor