Astrocytic cytoskeletal atrophy in the medial prefrontal cortex of a triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
2012
Abstract
We analysed the astrocytic cytoskeletal changes within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of a 3xTg-AD mouse model by measuring the surface area and volume of GFAP-positive profiles in relation to presence of Aβ, compared to control animals at different ages. 3xTg-AD animals showed clear astroglial cytoskeletal atrophy, which appeared at an early age of 3 months and remained up to 18 months old. This atrophy was independent of Aβ accumulation.
Our results indicate that the progressive reduction in astrocytic branching and domain in the mPFC can account for the integrative dysfunction leading to the cognitive deficits and memory disturbances observed in AD.