P2‐164: VALIDATION OF THE RETINAL NERVE FIBER LAYER AS AN OCULAR BIOMARKER IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: A HISTOPATHOLOGIC INVESTIGATION

perfused and brain tissues were fixed for immunohistochemical analyses. Results:Prior to GM-CSF treatment, both male and female Dp16 mice showed elevated locomotor activity relative to littermate controls in the open field assay. Female, but not male, Dp16 mice were impaired in the alternating Y-maze. Male Dp16 mice were impaired in the radial arm water maze (RAWM) and were rescued by GM-CSF treatment (females were ineffective swimmers). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that older Dp16 mice show gender-specific behavioral deficits, and that at least some of them can be reversed by administration of GM-CSF. Ongoing experiments are investigating the effect(s) of GM-CSF onDS-relevant neuronal cellular and morphological abnormalities in Dp16 mice. The results of these studies will help determine whether GMCSF/Leukine may be considered as a potential therapeutic for people with DS.