Panacea Index Logo

Command Palette

Search for a command to run...

Circadian system functionality, hippocampal oxidative stress, and spatial memory in the APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic model of Alzheimer disease: effects of melatonin or ramelteon.

Chronobiology international
August 1, 2012
Beatriz Baño Otalora et al. (10 authors)
Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tAnimal Study
Extracted Claims (13)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
long-term melatonin treatment
no change
many of the circadian and behavioral parameters measured, including oxidative stress markers
APPswe/PS1 double transgenic (Tg) mouse model of AD
not significantly affected
were not significantly affected
#1
-
increase
mean activity and body temperature (BT)
Tg controls (Tg-CON) during the day
significantly higher
showed significantly higher
#2
-
decrease
BT rhythm amplitude
Tg mice
significantly lower
was significantly lower
#3
melatonin treatment
no change
amplitude of the BT rhythm
Tg mice
no effect
had no effect
#4
ramelteon
decrease
amplitude of the BT rhythm
Tg mice
significantly reduced
significantly reduced
#5
ramelteon
increase
circadian rhythm fragmentation
Tg mice treated with ramelteon (Tg-RAM) towards the end of the experiment
significantly higher
showed significantly higher
#6
ramelteon
decrease
circadian BT rhythm strength
Tg mice treated with ramelteon (Tg-RAM) towards the end of the experiment
reduced
reduced
#7
-
decrease
free-running period (τ) for the BT and locomotor activity (LA) rhythms
Tg-CON
<24 h
was <24 h
#8
melatonin
no change
free-running period (τ) for BT and LA
both genotypes
24 h
maintained τ at 24 h
#9
ramelteon treatment
no change
free-running period (τ)
-
no effect
had no effect
#10
-
increase
number of approaches and time spent exploring novel objects
Tg-CON
significantly higher
were significantly higher
#11
melatonin treatment
decrease
hippocampal protein oxidation
Tg-MEL
significant reduction
significant reduction
#12
ramelteon treatment
decrease
hippocampal protein oxidation
Tg-RAM
significant reduction
significant reduction
#13
Abstract

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily causes β-amyloid accumulation in the brain, resulting in cognitive and behavioral deficits. AD patients, however, also suffer from severe circadian rhythm disruptions, and the underlying causes are still not fully known. Patients with AD show reduced systemic melatonin levels. This may contribute to their symptoms, since melatonin is an effective chronobiotic and antioxidant with neuroprotective properties. Here, the authors critically assessed the effects of long-term melatonin treatment on circadian system function, hippocampal oxidative stress, and spatial memory performance in the APPswe/PS1 double transgenic (Tg) mouse model of AD. To test if melatonin MT1/MT2 receptor activation, alone, was involved, the authors chronically treated some mice with the selective MT1/MT2 receptor agonist ramelteon. The results indicate that many of the circadian and behavioral parameters measured, including oxidative stress markers, were not significantly affected in these AD mice. During the day, though, Tg controls (Tg-CON) showed significantly higher mean activity and body temperature (BT) than wild-type (WT) mice. Overall, BT rhythm amplitude was significantly lower in Tg than in WT mice. Although melatonin treatment had no effect, ramelteon significantly reduced the amplitude of the BT rhythm in Tg mice. Towards the end of the experiment, Tg mice treated with ramelteon (Tg-RAM) showed significantly higher circadian rhythm fragmentation than Tg-CON and reduced circadian BT rhythm strength. The free-running period (τ) for the BT and locomotor activity (LA) rhythms of Tg-CON was <24 h. Whereas melatonin maintained τ at 24 h for BT and LA in both genotypes, ramelteon treatment had no effect. In the behavioral tests, the number of approaches and time spent exploring novel objects were significantly higher in Tg-CON than WT controls. Brain tissue analysis revealed significant reduction in hippocampal protein oxidation in Tg-MEL and Tg-RAM compared with Tg-CON animals. These results suggest that not all aspects of the circadian system are affected in the APPswe/PS1 mice. Therefore, care should be taken when extending the results obtained in Tg mice to develop new therapies in humans. This study also revealed the complexity in the therapeutic actions of melatonin and ramelteon in this mouse model of AD.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Alzheimer DiseaseAmyloid beta-Protein PrecursorAnimalsBody TemperatureCircadian RhythmDisease Models, AnimalHippocampusIndenesMaleMelatoninMemoryMiceMice, TransgenicMotor ActivityMutant ProteinsOxidative StressPresenilin-1Receptors, Melatonin
Study Links
PubMed ID22823866
Related Supplements