Abstract
The incidence of metabolic disorders, as well as of neurodegenerative diseases—mainly the sporadic forms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease—are increasing worldwide. Notably, obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia have been indicated as early risk factors for sporadic forms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. These conditions share a range of molecular and cellular features, including protein aggregation, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and blood-brain barrier dysfunction, all of which contribute to neuronal death and cognitive impairment. Rodent models of obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia exhibit all the hallmarks of these degenerative diseases, and represent an interesting approach to the study of the phenotypic features and pathogenic mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders. We review the main pathological aspects of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease as summarized in rodent models of obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia.
Highlights
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are the two most common neurodegenerative diseases
Taking into account the fact that (i) metabolic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia are factors that increase the individual risk of developing AD and PD; and (ii) rodent models of obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia present all the main hallmarks of AD and PD, we propose these experimental animal models as strategic tools to study neurodegeneration
We can conclude that rodent models of obesity, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia are useful tools for studying neurodegenerative disease development and characteristics
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are the two most common neurodegenerative diseases. It takes some time to recreate the features of AD using transgenic mice models, because the increase in Aβ levels, amyloid plaque formation, and behavioral impairments appear typically from 6 months of age (Games et al, 1995; Hsiao et al, 1996; SturchlerPierrat et al, 1997; Dewachter et al, 2000). Another interesting experimental tool with which to study Aβ toxicity is ICV and intrahippocampal injections of Aβ peptides (Flood et al, 1991; Piermartiri et al, 2010; Ferreira and Klein, 2011). This neuropathology is associated with non-motor symptoms, for example anxiety,
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