title: [Change of memory function and decrease of nitric oxide level of whole brain in the transgenic mice expressing human tau 40 with P301L mutation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the mechanism of learning and memory dysfuction in the transgenic mouse expressing human tau 40 isoform with P301L mutation (F10).
  
  
  METHODS
  The human tau protein expression and phosphor-tau protein levels were detected with Western blot method. The neurofibrillary tangles were observed with Bielshowsky silver stain. The behavior changes of learning and memory were observed by open field test and passive avoidance test. Acetyleholine level, activities of acetycholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase of whole brain was detected by colorimetry method. The nitric oxide level of whole brain was detected by nitrate enzyme reduction method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exogenous human tau gene was expressed and an elevation of phosphor-tau protein level in 7 and 3-month transgenic mice's hippocampus andcerebrocortex was observed. The neurofibrillary tangles were observed in cerebrocortex of 7-month transgenic mice; the 7-month transgenic mice also presented an evident reduction of learning and memory ability and nitric oxide level of the whole brain, but not changes in acetylcholine level, acetycholinesterase activity, choline acetyltransferase activity and expression in whole brain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tau transgenic mice (F10) can still inherit their parents' biologiccal characters, and develop learning and memory dysfunction awnodh san obvious decrease in nitric oxide level of whole brain in the 7-month old mice, suggesting a decrease of nitric oxide level of whole brain would be involved in the mechanism of learning and memory dysfunction in these transgenic mice.
authors.forename: Ig-wei
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Li-xia
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xue-lan
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ru-zhu
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.lastname: Wang Hai
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D016875:tau Proteins
chemical_list: D000109:Acetylcholine; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C054369:MAPT protein, human; D016875:tau Proteins