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Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease
Published on: August 25, 2014
Social odor recognition: a novel behavioral model for cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease
Michael M Monaghan1, Lauren Leddy, Mei-Li Amy Sung
1Discovery Neuroscience, Pfizer Global Research and Development, CN8000, Princeton, NJ 08534, USA. monaghm@wyeth.com
Neuro-Degenerative Diseases
|March 4, 2010
Summary
Parkinson's disease (PD) impairs social odor recognition (SOR) memory in mice. This cognitive deficit, linked to dopaminergic neuron loss, was reversed by deprenyl, suggesting SOR memory as a model for PD cognitive therapies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily causing motor symptoms due to dopaminergic neuron loss.
- Cognitive impairments are increasingly recognized as a significant clinical feature in PD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of MPTP-induced dopaminergic lesions in mice on social odor recognition (SOR) memory.
- To assess the correlation between nigrostriatal integrity and SOR memory deficits.
Main Methods:
- Mice received acute MPTP treatment to induce dopaminergic lesions.
- Memory function was evaluated using the SOR assay approximately two weeks post-treatment.
- Biochemical and immunohistochemical analyses assessed dopaminergic markers and striatal integrity.
Main Results:
- MPTP treatment significantly impaired SOR memory in mice, correlating with reduced dopamine levels, dopamine transporter binding, and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity.
- The observed cognitive deficits occurred without affecting odor discrimination during the learning phase.
- Pretreatment with the MAO-B inhibitor, deprenyl, successfully blocked both the dopaminergic deficits and the impairment in SOR memory.
Conclusions:
- MPTP-induced dopaminergic lesions in mice selectively impair social odor recognition memory.
- Deprenyl demonstrates a protective effect against MPTP-induced cognitive deficits, highlighting its therapeutic potential.
- The SOR memory assay serves as a valuable preclinical model for evaluating potential cognitive therapies for Parkinson's disease.
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