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Alzheimers disease, Dendritic spines, In vovo two-photon imaging, Learning and memory, Long-term potentiation, Synaptic transmission, BACE1
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: BACE1 (beta site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme
1) is the rate limiting protease in amyloid beta production, hence a
promising drug target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Inhibition of BACE1, as the major beta-secretase in vivo with multiple
substrates, however is likely to have mechanism-based adverse effects.
We explored the impact of long-term pharmacological inhibition of BACE1
on dendritic spine dynamics, synaptic functions, and cognitive
performance of adult mice.
METHODS: Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to assess A
beta 40 levels in brain and plasma after oral administration of BACE1
inhibitors SCH1682496 or LY2811376. In vivo two-photon microscopy of the
somatosensory cortex was performed to monitor structural dynamics of
dendritic spines while synaptic functions and plasticity were measured
via electrophysiological recordings of excitatory postsynaptic currents
and hippocampal long-term potentiation in brain slices. Finally,
behavioral tests were performed to analyze the impact of pharmacological
inhibition of BACE1 on cognitive performance.
RESULTS: Dose-dependent decrease of A beta 40 levels in vivo confirmed
suppression of BACE1 activity by both inhibitors. Prolonged treatment
caused a reduction in spine formation of layer V pyramidal neurons,
which recovered after withdrawal of inhibitors. Congruently, the rate of
spontaneous and miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents in pyramidal
neurons and hippocampal long-term potentiation were reduced in animals
treated with BACE1 inhibitors. These effects were not detected in
Bace1(-/-) mice treated with SCH1682496, confirming BACE1 as the
pharmacological target. Described structural and functional changes were
associated with cognitive deficits as revealed in behavioral tests.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate important functions to BACE1 in
structural and functional synaptic plasticity in the mature brain, with
implications for cognition.
