Degeneration and energy shortage in the suprachiasmatic nucleus underlies the circadian rhythm disturbance in ApoE^-/- mice: implications for Alzheimer's disease.

ABSTRACT: Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients suffer sleep disorders and circadian rhythm disturbances (CRDs). The underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood, and treatments are lacking. In this study, we characterized the locomotor activity, clock gene expression, morphological degeneration and energy metabolism of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), together with retinal light sensing, in ApoE^-/- mice, a model for AD. Compared with the control C57BL/6J mice, ApoE^-/- mice exhibited disordered circadian locomotor activity under dim light and constant darkness, with impaired re-entrainment to phase change schedules. Decreased retinal melanopsin expression, together with amyloidosis and tau deposition, was evident in ApoE^-/- mice. Mitochondrial and synaptic deteriorati

SUBMITTER: Zhou L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5099891 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature