A Novel Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease with Chronic Estrogen Deficiency Leads to Glial Cell Activation and Hypertrophy
2011

Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease with Estrogen Deficiency

Sample size: 6 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Annik Prat, Maik Behrendt, Edwige Marcinkiewicz, Sebastien Boridy, Sairam Ram M., Nabil G. Seidah, Dusica Maysinger

Primary Institution: Clinical Research Institute of Montreal

Hypothesis

The study aims to explore the abnormalities of neural cells in a novel mouse model of Alzheimer's disease with chronic estrogen deficiency.

Conclusion

The study found that the new mouse model exhibited larger and more diffuse amyloid plaques and significant glial cell activation.

Supporting Evidence

  • The FORKO-APPsw/PS1Δ9 mice exhibited larger and more diffuse plaques compared to APPsw/PS1Δ9 mice.
  • Glial cell hypertrophy and activation were observed as early as 3 months of age in the FORKO-APPsw/PS1Δ9 mice.
  • Letrozole treatment in primary cultures led to similar glial cell hypertrophy and activation.

Takeaway

Researchers created a special mouse to study Alzheimer's disease and found that a lack of estrogen made the brain cells grow bigger and caused more problems with amyloid plaques.

Methodology

The study involved breeding FORKO mice with APPsw/PS1Δ9 mice and analyzing the resulting offspring for plaque pathology and glial cell morphology.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to the limited genetic background of the mouse models used.

Limitations

The study did not explore the origin of microglia associated with plaques in Alzheimer's disease.

Participant Demographics

The study used genetically modified mice, specifically FORKO and APPsw/PS1Δ9 strains.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.4061/2011/251517

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