Strain-dependent variations in the number of forebrain cholinergic neurons

Albanese, Alberto; Gozzo, Stefano; Iacopino, Carmela; Altavista, Maria Concetta

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(85)90237-9

Cited by 36 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…In this respect, our findings are consistent with data reported by Upchurch and Wehner (1988). The neurochemical basis for the poor performance of the DBA2/J mice is likely to be polygenic and complex, but candidate mechanisms include reduced hippocampal PKC activity (Wehner et al 1990), increased hippocampal cholinergic transmission (Albanese et al 1985;Mandel et al 1974), and altered morphology in hippocampal area CA3 (Schwegler et al 1990). …”

Section: Spatial and Contextual Learning In Selected Inbred Mouse Strsupporting

confidence: 90%

Strain-dependent Differences in LTP and Hippocampus-dependent Memory in Inbred Mice

Nguyen¹,

Abel²,

Kandel³

et al. 2000

Learn. Mem.

225

204

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Many studies have used "reverse" genetics to produce "knock-out" and transgenic mice to explore the roles of various molecules in long-term potentiation (LTP) and spatial memory. The existence of a variety of inbred strains of mice provides an additional way of exploring the genetic bases of learning and memory. We examined behavioral memory and LTP expression in area CA1 of hippocampal slices prepared from four different inbred strains of mice: C57BL/6J, CBA/J, DBA/2J, and 129/SvEms-+ Ter? /J. We found that LTP induced by four 100-Hz trains of stimulation was robust and long-lasting in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice but decayed in CBA/J and 129/SvEms-+ Ter? /J mice. LTP induced by one 100-Hz train was significantly smaller after 1 hr in the 129/SvEms-+ Ter? /J mice than in the other three strains. Theta-burst LTP was shorter lasting in CBA/J, DBA/2J, and 129/SvEms-+ Ter? /J mice than in C57BL/6J mice. We also observed specific memory deficits, among particular mouse strains, in spatial and nonspatial tests of hippocampus-dependent memory. CBA/J mice showed defective learning in the Morris water maze, and both DBA/2J and CBA/J strains displayed deficient long-term memory in contextual and cued fear conditioning tests. Our findings provide strong support for a genetic basis for some forms of synaptic plasticity that are linked to behavioral long-term memory and suggest that genetic background can influence the electrophysiological and behavioral phenotypes observed in genetically modified mice generated for elucidating the molecular bases of learning, memory, and LTP.

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Section: Spatial and Contextual Learning In Selected Inbred Mouse Strsupporting

confidence: 90%

Strain-dependent Differences in LTP and Hippocampus-dependent Memory in Inbred Mice

Nguyen¹,

Abel²,

Kandel³

et al. 2000

Learn. Mem.

225

204

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“…Con trary to McGeer et al [1984] we counted all nucleolated nerve cells in our material re gardless of their size in order to avoid that changes in neuron size during aging will in fluence the estimated number of neurons. But it remains unlikely that this could ac count for the dramatic age-related neuronal loss in the Nbm as reported by , Studies with inbred strains of mice indi cate that the number of Nbm neurons might be genetically determined [Albanese et al, 1985]. The individual life span of a neuron, however, is not only determined by genetic factors but greatly influenced by a number of epigenetic variables including the neuronal environment, nutrition and oxygen supply and certain neuronotrophic factors promot ing survival and growth of different types of neurons [Carlson, 1985;Atterwill and Bow en, 1986].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Cholinergic System in Aging

Bigl

Arendt²,

Fischer³

et al. 1987

Gerontology

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A morphometric analysis of neuronal loss during normal aging was performed in the nucleus basalis Meynert complex of the basal forebrain (Nbm) (nucleus septi medialis, nucleus of Broca’s diagonal band, nucleus basalis) and the ciliary ganglion, a peripheral cholinergic structure, in patients free of neurological and psychiatric illness. As a basis for morphometric evaluation of the Nbm complex, a three-dimensional reconstruction of this complex structure was made. Neuronal counts in the Nbm complex and the ciliary ganglion remained stable up to the age of 60 or 50 years, respectively. After this age the number of neurons declined moderately in ciliary ganglion in all cases studied as well as in the Nbm complex in some cases (–20 and –25%, respectively, at about 90 years of age). In 3 out of 8 cases older than 60 years, neuronal counts in the Nbm complex were not reduced, so that no significant decline in neuronal number is apparent from the mean values of the 17 cases studied. No age-related changes were found in the neuronal distribution amongst the different subgroups of Nbm neurons using the alternative nomenclature of Mesulam et al. [J. comp. Neurol. 214: 170–197, 1983]. Our results provide no evidence that the cortical cholinergic projection system and peripheral cholinergic neurons might be especially vulnerable during normal aging. The severe degeneration of the cholinergic cortical projection system in SDAT is probably caused by mechanisms different from those acting during normal aging.

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“…Open-field activity was less severely depressed by cholin ergic agonists (nicotine and oxotremorine) in C57 than in DBA mice [7,16], In addition to that the performance of C57 mice is lower than that of DBA mice, when active avoidance or maze learning are considered [5,17,19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous behavioral and pharmacological investiga tions revealed strain-dependent differences between two inbred strains of mice, C57BL/6 (C57) and DBA/2 (DBA) [5,[17][18][19]. Some of these differences have been correlated with the strain-specific organization of the cerebral cholinergic systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional Cholinergic Differences in the Brain of DBA/2 and C57BL/6 Mice: A Morphological Study during Ontogeny

Schwab

Brückner

Castellano

et al. 1990

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord

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C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice present a number of behavioral and neurobiological differences and react in opposite ways to cholinergic drugs. A morphological study during ontogony of brain cholinergic organization of these strains was therefore performed by using acetylcholinesterase pharmacohistochemistry and choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry. Cross-sectional areas and rostrocaudal measures of selected brain regions were analyzed. C57 mice were characterized by a lower cholinergic density. This deficit was most pronounced in the striatum, the nucleus basalis of Meynert and the nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca. The observed strain differences were shown to be age-related by using mice aged 20–110 postnatal days. The differentially expressed cholinergic deficit in C57 mice may lead to an approach of the degenerative patterns of cholinergic systems in humans.

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Strain-dependent variations in the number of forebrain cholinergic neurons

Cited by 36 publications

References 22 publications

Strain-dependent Differences in LTP and Hippocampus-dependent Memory in Inbred Mice

Strain-dependent Differences in LTP and Hippocampus-dependent Memory in Inbred Mice

The Cholinergic System in Aging

Regional Cholinergic Differences in the Brain of DBA/2 and C57BL/6 Mice: A Morphological Study during Ontogeny

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