Abstract
BackgroundTauopathies, including Alzheimer's Disease, are the most frequent neurodegenerative diseases in elderly people and cause various cognitive, behavioural and motor defects, but also progressive language disorders. For communication and social interactions, mice produce ultrasonic vocalization (USV) via expiratory airflow through the larynx. We examined USV of Tau.P301L mice, a mouse model for tauopathy expressing human mutant tau protein and developing cognitive, motor and upper airway defects.Methodology/Principal FindingsAt age 4–5 months, Tau.P301L mice had normal USV, normal expiratory airflow and no brainstem tauopathy. At age 8–10 months, Tau.P301L mice presented impaired USV, reduced expiratory airflow and severe tauopathy in the periaqueductal gray, Kolliker-Fuse and retroambiguus nuclei. Tauopathy in these nuclei that control upper airway function and vocalization correlates well with the USV impairment of old Tau.P301L mice.ConclusionsIn a mouse model for tauopathy, we report for the first time an age-related impairment of USV that correlates with tauopathy in midbrain and brainstem areas controlling vocalization. The vocalization disorder of old Tau.P301L mice could be, at least in part, reminiscent of language disorders of elderly suffering tauopathy.
Highlights
Tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), are the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders in elderly people and are characterized by defective learning and memory, besides other cognitive and behavioural symptoms
In a mouse model for tauopathy, we report for the first time an age-related impairment of ultrasonic vocalization (USV) that correlates with tauopathy in midbrain and brainstem areas controlling vocalization
No significant differences were observed in either the duration of individual USV (Dur(USV); Fig. 1B), or the number of USV produced per min (Nb(USV); Fig. 1C), or the total amount of time spent in producing USV (totT(USV); Fig. 1D)
Summary
Tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), are the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders in elderly people and are characterized by defective learning and memory, besides other cognitive and behavioural symptoms. Tauopathies are accompanied by problems with swallowing, breathing and language. Problems with speech and language develop during AD and in many other neurodegenerative diseases [9,10,11,12,13]. Tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s Disease, are the most frequent neurodegenerative diseases in elderly people and cause various cognitive, behavioural and motor defects, and progressive language disorders. We examined USV of Tau.P301L mice, a mouse model for tauopathy expressing human mutant tau protein and developing cognitive, motor and upper airway defects
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