Species: Mouse
Genes: APP
Mutations: APP K670_M671delinsNL (Swedish), APP E693G (Arctic)
Modification: APP: Transgenic
Disease Relevance: Alzheimer's Disease
Strain Name: N/A
Genetic Background: Origin: B6D2 F1
Availability: Unknown

Modification Details

These mice overexpress human APP695 with the Swedish (K670N/M671L) and Arctic (E693G) mutations.

Neuropathology

By six months of age, these mice develop amyloid pathology affecting both the brain parenchyma and vasculature. In the parenchyma, amyloid pathology starts as intracellular punctate Aβ deposits in the cortex and hippocampus. Plaques are abundant in these areas by 9 to 15 months (Knobloch et al., 2007; Merlini et al., 2011). In 11-month-old animals, amyloid plaques occupy 3.2 to 7.4 percent of the cortical surface, increasing to 11.9 to 18 percent at 21 months (Grandjean et al., 2014).

Severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy is also present by 9 to 15 months of age, with dense Aβ aggregates accumulating in the walls of blood vessels (Knobloch et al., 2007). Vascular amyloid leads to narrowing of the vessels, leakages, and loss of vascular smooth-muscle cells, resulting in blood-brain barrier disruption (Merlini et al.,  2011).

Cognition/Behavior

Cognitive impairment is seen at 6 months of age as measured by the Morris water maze and Y-maze (Knobloch et al., 2007).

Other Phenotypes

Prior to plaque accumulation, these mice develop early deficits in synaptic plasticity. Specifically, LTP was impaired in slices from 3.5- and 7.5-month-old mice. LTP and basal synaptic transmission are normal at 1 month (Knobloch et al., 2007). Functional connectivity deficits have also been observed from an early age. The development of functional connectivity in the somatosensory and motor cortex, as derived from the temporal correlation of resting-state fMRI signals, occurs during the first month of life in wild-type mice and is impaired in age-matched ArcAβ mice. Structural development, as measured by diffusion-tensor imaging, is also affected during early postnatal life (Grandjean et al., 2014).

Phenotype Characterization

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References

Paper Citations

1. Knobloch M, Konietzko U, Krebs DC, Nitsch RM. Intracellular Abeta and cognitive deficits precede beta-amyloid deposition in transgenic arcAbeta mice. Neurobiol Aging. 2007 Sep;28(9):1297-306. Epub 2006 Jul 31 PubMed.
2. Merlini M, Meyer EP, Ulmann-Schuler A, Nitsch RM. Vascular β-amyloid and early astrocyte alterations impair cerebrovascular function and cerebral metabolism in transgenic arcAβ mice. Acta Neuropathol. 2011 Sep;122(3):293-311. PubMed.
3. Grandjean J, Schroeter A, He P, Tanadini M, Keist R, Krstic D, Konietzko U, Klohs J, Nitsch RM, Rudin M. Early alterations in functional connectivity and white matter structure in a transgenic mouse model of cerebral amyloidosis. J Neurosci. 2014 Oct 8;34(41):13780-9. PubMed.
4. Knobloch M, Farinelli M, Konietzko U, Nitsch RM, Mansuy IM. Abeta oligomer-mediated long-term potentiation impairment involves protein phosphatase 1-dependent mechanisms. J Neurosci. 2007 Jul 18;27(29):7648-53. PubMed.

Further Reading