Robust early plaque development (by 3 months in homozygotes, 5 months in hemizygotes), predominantly congophilic dense-core amyloid plaques surrounded by dystrophic neurites and gliosis. Some diffuse plaques and cerebral amyloidosis. No tau tangles. Neurons have reduced dendritic length, surface area, and branches.
Age-related learning and memory deficits, especially episodic memory, in select paradigm-specific tasks by 12 months.
Yes
Co-injection of transgenes into B6CBF1 oocytes, back-crossed to C57BL/6
B6;CB-Tg(Thy1-PSEN1*M146V/Thy1-APP*swe)10Arte
Good breeding capabilities and no premature death.
Rapid, early plaque development, with thioflavin S-positive amyloid deposits at 3 months; dense cored plaques and neuritic pathology by 5 months. Plaques become more extensive with age. More Aβ42 than Aβ40. Activated microglia appear concurrently with plaques, whereas GFAP+ astrocytes follow later, about 13-14 weeks. Dystrophic neurites at 5 months .
Early impairment in acquisition and learning reversal in the reference memory version of the Morris water maze by 3 months. Cognitive deficits in the step-down inhibitory avoidance test at 7 months but not at 2 months. Similar to wild-type in motility, exploratory activity, or neuromuscular function at 7 months as evaluated by the rotarod, hole board and grip strength tests.
Yes
Hybrid C3H/He-C57BL/6
Cholinergic dysfunction: decrease in the number of cholinergic neurons in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis by 7 months as measured by ChAT immunoreactivity. Enhanced auditory startle response and modest reduction in prepulse inhibition.
Available through the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto
