Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Date of Award
5-2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Dr. Michael W. Lehker
Second Advisor
Dr. Emilio Garrido-Sanabria
Third Advisor
Dr. Andrea Schwarzbach
Abstract
The McGill-Thy1 APP mouse is a triple transgenic model of Alzheimer disease, which has the mutant amyloid precursor protein to synergistically over-produce amyloid beta plaques. These mice exhibit visuo-spatial learning impairment at 3 months of age and memory impairment at 10-13 months of age in the Morris water maze. To extend these findings mice at 3, 5, and 7 months of age were tested on the Barnes maze. Non-Transgenic and Transgenic mice showed improvement during acquisition. However, 3 month and 5 month McGill Thy1- APP mice showed impaired acquisition learning while 7 month showed a learning and memory deficit compared to their Non-Transgenic counterpart. Increased expression of McSA1immuno-labeling from 5 month to 7 month transgenic mice was observed as well as plaque burden in the hippocampal formation. Overall, these findings indicated a correlation between increased expression of amyloid beta and its negative effects on visuo-spatial learning and memory using the Barnes maze. Cognitive deficits and expression of amyloid beta findings prove further evidence that amyloid beta correlates with behavioral impairment.
Granting Institution
University of Texas Brownsville
Comments
Copyright 2015 Amber Lynn Betz. All Rights Reserved.