Increase in Alzheimer's related markers preceeds memory disturbances: Studies in vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rat

Varga, János and Klausz, Barbara and Domokos, Ágnes and Kálmán, Sára and Pákáski, Magdolna and Szűcs, Szabina and Garab, Dénes and Zvara, Ágnes and Puskás, László and Kálmán, János and Tímár, Júlia and Bagdy, György and Zelena, Dóra (2014) Increase in Alzheimer's related markers preceeds memory disturbances: Studies in vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rat. BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN, 100. pp. 6-13. ISSN 0361-9230

Preview	Text Varga et al, 2013 preprint.pdf - Submitted Version Download (228kB) | Preview
	Text 2014BRB_Brati_Alzheimer.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (2MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly. For more effective therapy early diagnostic markers could be beneficial. Therefore we compared one year old rats with adults and examined if changes in possible brain markers of AD preceeded memory decline. We also tested if vasopressin-deficient animals were useful model of AD as vasopressin has well known positive effect on memory and AD patient has decreased vasopressin production. We compared adult (3 month) and old (12 month), normal and vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rats. To receive a comprehensive picture about their memory we examined their social discrimination, object discrimination and conditioned learning abilities (shuttle box). Amyloid precursor protein (APP), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), β-actin and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase 2 (TDO2) mRNA levels was measured by quantitative PCR. There was no difference between the memory of adult and aged groups. The vasopressin-deficient rats at both ages showed a weaker performance in the course of social and object discrimination tests and a higher escape failure during the shuttle box experiment. The brain marker mRNAs of the elder animals were higher than the levels of the adults, but the absence of vasopressin had no influence on them. Thus, the one year old rats showed elevated levels of AD-related markers, but memory deficits were observable only in vasopressin deficient animals. Vasopressin does not seem to have pathogenic role in AD. Changes in the studied markers might predict later symptoms, although further studies are required for confirmation.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item