APP21 transgenic rats develop age-dependent cognitive impairment and microglia accumulation within white matter tracts.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Most of the animal models commonly used for preclinical research into Alzheimer's disease (AD) largely fail to address the pathophysiology, including the impact of known risk factors, of the widely diagnosed sporadic form of the disease. Here, we use a transgenic rat (APP21) that does not develop AD-like pathology spontaneously with age, but does develop pathology following vascular stress. To further the potential of this novel rat model as a much-needed pre-clinical animal model of sporadic AD, we characterize APP21 transgenic rats behaviorally and histologically up to 19 months of age.

Methods

The open field test was used as a measure of activity; and the Morris water maze was used to assess learning, memory, and strategy shift. Neuronal loss and microglia acti

SUBMITTER: Weishaupt N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6114740 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature