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Environmental Experience Modulates Ischemia‐induced Amyloidogenesis and Enhances Functional Recovery
Author(s) -
Briones Tess L.,
Woods Julie,
Rogozinska Magdalena,
Wadowska Magdalena
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a778-a
Subject(s) - ischemia , neprilysin , environmental enrichment , medicine , amyloid beta , endocrinology , psychology , chemistry , enzyme , disease , biochemistry
Increased expression of beta‐amyloid precursor protein (APP) and accumulation of beta‐amyloid peptide (Aβ) are seen after cerebral ischemia. In this study, we examined if ischemia‐induced Aβ amyloidogenesis could be modulated by environmental “experience.” Furthermore, we examined if modulation of the ischemia‐induced amyloidogenesis is associated with amelioration of cognitive impairment. Forty‐eight adult male Wistar rats received either ischemia (n=24) or sham surgery (n=24). Three days after surgery, animals in each group were randomly assigned to either: complex environment housing (EC) or socially paired housing (controls). After 14 days of differential environmental housing, rats were tested in the water maze tasks. Results showed decreased APP and Aβ expression in the EC rats compared to the socially housed animals. In addition, significantly increased levels of neprilysin, an amyloid‐degrading enzyme, were seen in the ischemia rats housed in EC compared to the socially housed ischemia rats. Behavioral analyses showed significantly shorter mean swim latencies in the discrimination learning tasks in rats assigned to EC compared to rats in the socially housed group. These results suggest that housing animals in a multi‐sensory environment following cerebral ischemia may prevent the injury‐induced accumulation of amyloid deposits and enhance functional recovery. (Funded by NIH NR05260)