Novel behavioural characteristics of male human P301S mutant tau transgenic mice - a model for tauopathy

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2020Source: NeuroscienceAuthor(s): Georgia Watt, Magdalena Przybyla, Valeria Zak, Janet van Eersel, Arne Ittner, Lars M Ittner, Tim KarlAbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and the accumulation of two hallmark proteins, amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau. Traditionally, transgenic mouse models for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have generally focused on Aβ pathology, however, in recent years a number of tauopathy transgenic mouse models have been developed, including the TAU58/2 mouse model. These mice develop tau pathology and neurofibrillary tangles from 2 months of age and show motor impairments and alterations in the behavioural response to elevated plus maze testing. The cognitive and social phenotype of this model has not yet been assessed comprehensively. Furthermore, the behavioural changes seen in the elevated plus maze have previously been linked to both anxiety and disinhibitory phenotypes. Thus, this study assessed 4-month-old TAU58/2 males comprehensively for disinhibitory and social behaviours, social recognition memory, and sensorimotor gating. TAU58/2 males demonstrated reduced exploration and anxiety-like behaviours but no changes to disinhibitory behaviours, reduced sociability in the social preference test and impaired acoustic startle and prepulse inhibition. Aggressive and socio-positive behaviours were not affected except a reduction in the occ...

Source: Neuroscience - February 13, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research