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Apolipoprotein E deficiency effects on learning in mice are dependent upon the background strain
C Lominska1, J A Levin, J Wang
1The Rockefeller University, Lab. Biochem. Gen. & Metabolism, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Behavioural Brain Research
|February 15, 2001
Summary
Apolipoprotein E deficiency impairs cognitive function in older mice, with effects varying by genetic background. This study highlights age-dependent and strain-specific impacts on spatial memory and behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Apolipoprotein E (apoE) plays a crucial role in lipid transport and has been implicated in cognitive function.
- Understanding the genetic and environmental factors influencing apoE's impact on the brain is essential for neurodegenerative disease research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the age-dependent and strain-specific effects of apolipoprotein E deficiency on cognitive behavior in mice.
- To examine the influence of background strain on activity levels and stress-induced corticosterone responses.
Main Methods:
- Apolipoprotein E deficient and wildtype mice from C57BL/6 and FVB/N backgrounds were used.
- Cognitive behavior was assessed using an olfactory-cued 8-arm radial maze and an open field assay.
- Plasma corticosterone levels were measured under control, fasting, and restraint stress conditions.
Main Results:
- At 6 months, apoE-deficient mice on the C57BL/6 background showed impaired maze performance compared to other groups.
- Background strain influenced activity levels in both maze and open field tests.
- Fasting and stress increased corticosterone, with strain-specific effects observed, but no direct correlation with cognitive impairment was found.
Conclusions:
- Apolipoprotein E deficiency exerts an age-dependent and strain-specific negative effect on cognitive behavior in mice.
- Background genetics significantly modulate the behavioral and physiological responses to apoE deficiency and stress.