Brain structure and working memory adaptations associated with maturation and aging in mice

Journal article

Background: Scopolamine is an anticholinergic drug that disrupts cholinergic transmission in the central nervous system as well as causes cognitive abnormalities and pathological hallmarks that are similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s Disease. Therefore, it is used for induction of Alzheimer’s Disease in animal models. Objective:  to investigate the effects of long-term induction with scopolamine on the brain tissue of mice. Methods: Seventy adult mice were divided into 2 equal groups: The first group was the normal control group received distilled water only. The second one was the Alzheimer’s Disease induction group received intraperitoneal scopolamine (1mg/kg) for 14 days only after that distilled water was given for the next 6 months. Ten mice were isolated from each group at zero time, after 2 weeks of induction, after 3-month and after 6 months and subjected to the behavioral tests then sacrificed for determination of biochemical factors (including brain-derived neurotrophic factor, total antioxidant status, malondialdehyde, and amyloid β). Data were analyzed using t-tests, and ANOVA. All values expressed as Mean±SD and P value <0.05 were considered significant. Result: Scopolamine produced brain histopathological changes similar to those of human Alzheimer’s disease. However, it does not produce further statistically significant differences in behavioral tests and biochemical markers during the total period of study. Conclusion: scopolamine produces brain tissue changes that persist for a long period and it can be used for long-term study of Alzheimer’s disease

Authors: Clifford, KP; Miles, AE; Prevot, TD; Misquitta, KA; Ellegood, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Frontiers Media
• Journal: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
• Volume: 15
• Pages: 1195748-1195748
• Article number: 1195748
• Publication date: 2023-07-06
• DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1195748
• EISSN: 1663-4365
• ISSN: 1663-4365
• Language: English
• Keywords: Neuroscience; Developmental psychology; Biology; Brain aging; Cognition; Aging brain; Working memory; Psychology