Chronic Apocynin Treatment Reduces Beta Amyloid Plaque Size and Microglial Number in Mice
Author Information
Author(s): Lull Melinda E., Levesque Shannon, Surace Michael J., Block Michelle L., Ginsberg Stephen D.
Primary Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Campus
Hypothesis
Can chronic administration of NADPH oxidase inhibitors reduce microglial activation and neuropathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease?
Conclusion
Apocynin treatment reduced plaque size and microglial number in hAPP(751)SL mice, but did not improve behavioral deficits or synaptic density.
Supporting Evidence
- Apocynin treatment reduced plaque size in the cortex and hippocampus of hAPP(751)SL mice.
- Apocynin decreased the number of microglia in the cortex of hAPP(751)SL mice.
- Neither dextromethorphan nor apocynin improved behavioral deficits in hAPP(751)SL mice.
- Apocynin did not alter synapse density in the hippocampus of hAPP(751)SL mice.
- Low levels of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress were observed in hAPP(751)SL mice at 8 months of age.
Takeaway
Researchers gave a medicine called apocynin to mice with a brain problem and found it made the bad stuff in their brains smaller, but it didn't help them think better.
Methodology
Mice were treated daily with either saline, dextromethorphan, or apocynin for four months, followed by behavioral testing and analysis of brain tissue.
Limitations
The study was limited by the low levels of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress observed in the mouse model at the time of treatment.
Participant Demographics
53 male transgenic hAPP(751)SL mice
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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