Perineuronal nets are largely unaffected in Alzheimer model Tg2576 mice

• Published in: Neurobiology of aging 2010-07, Vol.31 (7), p.1254-1256
• Main Authors: Morawski, Markus, Pavlica, Sanja, Seeger, Gudrun, Grosche, Jens, Kouznetsova, Elena, Schliebs, Reinhard, Brückner, Gert, Arendt, Thomas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggrecan; Aggrecans - genetics; Aggrecans - metabolism; Alzheimer Disease - genetics; Alzheimer Disease - metabolism; Alzheimer Disease - pathology; Amyloid beta-Peptides - genetics; Animals; Astrocytes; Astrocytes - metabolism; Astrocytes - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan; Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans - metabolism; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Development. Senescence. Regeneration. Transplantation; Disease Models, Animal; Extracellular matrix; Extracellular Matrix - genetics; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Extracellular Matrix - pathology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Hyaluronan; Hyaluronic Acid - deficiency; Hyaluronic Acid - genetics; Internal Medicine; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Microglia; Neurology; Neurons - metabolism; Neurons - pathology; Neuroprotection; Plaque; Plaque, Amyloid - genetics; Plaque, Amyloid - metabolism; Plaque, Amyloid - pathology; Substrate Specificity - genetics; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; β-Amyloid
• ISSN: 0197-4580; 1558-1497
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2008.07.023

Abstract Changes in the molecular organization of the extracellular matrix are key factors in neuropathology. We investigated aggrecan-based perineuronal nets (PNs) in relation to neurodegeneration and activation of glial cells in a transgenic mouse (Tg2576) model of Alzheimer’s disease. The formation of amyloid plaques in the cerebral cortex occurred independently of the area-specific distribution of PNs. Matrix components were only affected in the core of plaques in advanced stages of pathology. PNs remained unchanged in the large marginal zone occupied by reactive astrocytic processes. We conclude that the aggrecan-based extracellular matrix of PNs is not enzymatically altered in peripheral plaque territories and is only removed after neuronal death.