title: Effects of Anthocyanins on CAG Repeat Instability and Behaviour in Huntington's Disease R6/1 Mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG repeat expansions in the HTT gene. Somatic repeat expansion in the R6/1 mouse model of HD depends on mismatch repair and is worsened by base excision repair initiated by the 7,8-dihydroxy-8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase (Ogg1) or Nei-like 1 (Neil1). Ogg1 and Neil1 repairs common oxidative lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated whether anthocyanin antioxidants added daily to the drinking water could affect CAG repeat instability in several organs and behaviour in R6/1 HD mice. In addition, anthocyanin-treated and untreated R6/1 HD mice at 22 weeks of age were tested in the open field test and on the rotarod.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anthocyanin-treated R6/1 HD mice showed reduced instability index in the ears and in the cortex compared to untreated R6/1 mice, and no difference in liver and kidney. There were no significant differences in any of the parameters tested in the behavioural tests among anthocyanin-treated and untreated R6/1 HD mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that continuous anthocyanin-treatment may have modest effects on CAG repeat instability in the ears and the cortex of R6/1 mice. More studies are required to investigate if anthocyanin-treatment could affect behaviour earlier in the disease course.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Møllersen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rare Disorders, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Olve
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moldestad
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Alexander D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bjølgerud
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingunn
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tveterås
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klungland
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Retterstøl