Synaptic dysfunction and disconnectivity are core deficits in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), preceding clear changes in histopathology and cognitive functioning. Here, the early and late effects of tau pathology induction on functional network connectivity were investigated in P301L mice. Multichannel EEG oscillations were used to compute (1) coherent activity between the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HPC) CA1-CA3 networks; (2) phase-amplitude cross frequency coupling (PAC) between theta and gamma oscillations, which is instrumental in adequate cognitive functioning; (3) information processing as assessed by auditory evoked potentials and oscillations in the passive oddball mismatch negativity-like (MMN) paradigm. At the end, the density of tau aggregation and GABA parvalbumin (PV+) interneurons were quantified by immunohistochemistry. Early weakening of EEG theta oscillations and coherent activity were revealed between the PFC and HPC CA1 and drastic impairments in theta–gamma oscillations PAC from week 2 onwards, while PV+ interneurons count was not altered. Moreover, the tau pathology disrupted the MMN complex amplitude and evoked gamma oscillations to standard and deviant stimuli suggesting altered memory formation and recall. The induction of intracellular tau aggregation by tau seed injection results in early altered connectivity and strong theta–gamma oscillations uncoupling, which may be exploited as an early electrophysiological signature of dysfunctional neuronal networks.

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The study examined the effects of R 47 243 and its (-)-and (+)-isomers as well as those of the putative a2-antagonists yohimbine, piperoxan, CGS 7225 A, and idazoxan at 1-to 24-hr time intervals after oral administration in rats. The experiments determined the antagonism produced by these compounds of the loss of the righting reflex (LRR) and of the exophthalmia (EXO) induced by intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg of xylazine. Antagonism of LRR constitutes an in vivo measure of drug antagonist effects at CNS receptors that mediate behavioral depression produced by putative a2-agonists; antagonism of EX0 offers an in vivo measure of a,-antagonist activity. More so than idazoxan or any of the other putative a2-antagonists tested, R 47 243 appeared to be a potent, long acting, and specific antagonist; it also acted as a full antagonist rather than as a partial agonist and showed excellent oral absorption.