Metabolic effects of the retina in a murine model of AD (TgSwDI)

Abstract

Abstract* Shared co‐author.Purpose: Previous cerebral studies of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have provided evidence for a neuronal metabolic dysfunction, which precede the cognitive decline. Since the retina is one of the most energy demanding tissues in the body and considered an extension of the brain due to its origin from the neural tissue, we speculate whether dysfunctional energy metabolism is present in AD models. Thus, the aim of the study is to evaluate energy metabolism and tissue survival in retinal explants in a murine model of AD (TgSwDI) during aging.Methods: The 8‐, 12‐, and 24‐month‐old TgSwDI mouse model was compared with age‐matched wild‐type (WT) mice. Tissue survival was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) viability assays of retinal explants at 2, 4 and 24 hours of incubation with culture media. Total ATP levels were quantified by bioluminescence assays to assess energy metabolism in TgSwDI mice.Results: Retinal explant survival was reduced in the TgSwDI model compared to the age‐matched WT model with LDH assay at 8 months. The 8‐month‐old AD TgSwDI mice showed a tendency to decrease in total ATP levels after 2 hours of retinal explant incubation (p = 0.07).Conclusions: Retinal tissue survival is impaired in the TgSwDI model during various ages, and tendencies of decreased retinal ATP levels were established at 8 months, implying disrupted retinal energy metabolism similar to changes observed in the AD brain.