title: Recognition memory and β-amyloid plaques in adult Tg2576 mice are not modified after oral exposure to aluminum.
abstract: The role of aluminum (Al) in Alzheimer disease is highly controversial. However, this element has been detected in neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in patients with Alzheimer disease. Its presence in neuritic plaques in hippocampus is especially relevant, as this is an area closely related to spatial learning and memory. In this study, the diet of wild-type and Tg2576 mice (animals overexpressing the human amyloid precursor protein) was supplemented with Al lactate (1 mg/g). General neurotoxic Al effects were evaluated using a functional observational battery and a novel object recognition task. Four experimental groups were used: Control-wild, Al-wild, Control-Tg, and Al-Tg mice. The results show a decreased home-cage activity and an increase in piloerection in all Al-exposed animals, and an increased sensorimotor reactivity in Tg2576 mice given Al. Neither Al treatment nor genotype had any noticeable effect on corticosterone levels and Al concentrations in frontal cortex and cerebellum of the mice. Recognition memory was impaired in Tg2576 mice, whereas β-amyloid plaque depositions were observed in all these animals. However, Al did not alter the recognition memory and β-amyloid plaque loads of Tg2576 mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Research Center for Behavioral Assessment (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili Sescelades Campus, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ribes
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torrente
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vicens
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Colomina
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Domingo
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000375:Aging; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D007773:Lactates; C104223:aluminum lactate