Chapter 25 Strain dependent and invariant features of transgenic mice expressing Alzheimer amyloid precursor proteins

Abstract

Publisher Summary Nearly a decade after the identification of the Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene, several groups of investigators have created transgenic mice expressing APP that simulate some of the prominent behavioral and pathological features of Alzheimer's disease. These features that are present to various degrees in different lines of mice include age-related impairment in learning and memory, neuronal loss, gliosis, neuritic changes, amyloid deposition and abnormal tau phosphorylation. No mouse model exhibiting every neuropathological feature of Alzheimer's disease exists. Several strain dependent traits have been identified here in transgenic mice expressing APP. These include survival, neophobia, exploratory, and thigmotaxic behavior and diffuse hypertrophic astrocytic gliosis. Other traits have been observed in some but not all strains, including amyloid plaque deposition, abnormal tau protein phosphorylation, neuron loss, diminished regional glucose utilization, and complex behavioral abnormalities. More experiments are needed to determine the extent to which these traits are modified by background genes. Comparisons of these traits in transgenic mice controlled for promoter, as well as APP type and levels, are needed.