Evaluation of the APP23-model for Alzheimer's disease in the odour paired-associate test for hippocampus-dependent memory

Behav Brain Res. 2008 Jun 26;190(1):147-51. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.02.014. Epub 2008 Feb 16.

Abstract

The APP23 model is a transgenic mouse model for Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive performance in the APP23-model was assessed by Morris Water Maze (MWM) and passive avoidance learning, but the latter failed to show any difference between the genotypes. In search of a non-spatial alternative for assessment of hippocampus-dependent memory, we evaluated an odour paired-associate test, which is based on learning an association between two sets of odours. The protocol includes a shaping phase, in which the animals learn to dig up a reward, a preliminary training phase and a training phase, where the actual association is learned. Subsequently, mice are tested for transitive inference and subjected to a symmetry test. Impairment was seen in the APP23 mice, in comparison with wild type mice, in training; however, both groups failed the transitivity and symmetry test. Possible explanations for this discrepancy with earlier published results are the advanced age of the mice or the C57Bl/6J background, in which the model was established.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Alzheimer Disease* / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease* / pathology
  • Alzheimer Disease* / physiopathology
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Association Learning / physiology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Maze Learning
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Odorants*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Random Allocation

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor