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Biochemical and cognitive studies of apolipoprotein-E-deficient mice

  • Part IV Immune Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Disorders
  • Published:
Molecular and chemical neuropathology

Abstract

Apolipoprotein-E-deficient mice provide a useful model system for studying the role of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in brain function. In the present study, we characterization the cholinergic function of these mice and the extent of phosphorylation of their cytoskeletal protein τ. Morris water maze tasks revealed deficits in working memory that were accompanied by a specific decrease in hippocampal and cortical choline acetyltransferase activities. Immunoblot experiments utilizing native and dephosphorylated τ and antibodies directed against specific phosphorylated and unphosphorylated τ epitopes revealed that τ of the apoE-deficient mice is hyperphosphorylated. These results show that apoE-deficient mice have cognitive cholinergic and cytoskeletal derangements and point out the importance of this model for studying the role of apoE in neuronal function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiochemistry, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Ramat Aviv, Israel

    Irit Gordon, Idit Genis & Daniel M. Michaelson

  2. Israel Institute for Biological Research, P.O.B. 19, Ness-Ziona, Israel

    Ettie Grauer

  3. Sheba Medical Center, Institute of Lipid-Atherosclerosis Research, 52621, Tel Hashomer, Israel

    Ephraim Sehayek

Authors
  1. Irit Gordon
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  2. Idit Genis
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  3. Ettie Grauer
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  4. Ephraim Sehayek
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  5. Daniel M. Michaelson
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Gordon, I., Genis, I., Grauer, E. et al. Biochemical and cognitive studies of apolipoprotein-E-deficient mice. Molecular and Chemical Neuropathology 28, 97–103 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02815210

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02815210

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