Spatial learning- exploration- anxiety- and motor coordination in female APP23 transgenic mice with the Swedish mutation-

Authors
R. Lalonde, M. Dumont, M. Staufenbiel, C. Sturchler-Pierrat, C. Strazielle.

Lab
Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, INSERM EPI 9906, Rouen, France ; Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Nervous System Research, Switzerland ; Faculté de Médecine, Laboratoire de Pathologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire en Nutrition (EMI-INSERM 0014) and Service de

Journal
Brain Research

Abstract
Transgenic mice overexpressing the _APP gene with the Swedish mutation under the control of the murine thy-1 promoter show Alzheimer-like characteristics including the accumulation of A_ protein in the cerebral cortex. Female 16-month-old APP23 transgenic mice were compared to age-matched non-transgenic mice in behavioral tests measuring spatial learning, exploration of environmental stimuli, anxiety, and motor coordination. APP23 transgenic mice had fewer fast ambulatory movements, either fast or slow stereotypy movements, and slow rears in a photocell activity chamber. The acquisition of spatial learning in the Morris water maze was impaired in APP23 transgenic mice, but not during the probe test or while swimming towards a visible platform. Neither were there intergroup differences in tests of anxiety or motor coordination. These results indicate that a learning deficit and hypoactivity, concordant with the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, characterize this mouse model with A_ accumulation.

BIOSEB Instruments Used:
Acquisition software: ACTITRACK (ACTITRACK),Infrared Actimeter (LE8815)