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N-acetyl cysteine treatment rescues cognitive deficits induced by mitochondrial dysfunction in G72/G30 transgenic mice.

ABSTRACT: Genetic studies have implicated the evolutionary novel, anthropoid primate-specific gene locus G72/G30 in psychiatric diseases. This gene encodes the protein LG72 that has been discussed to function as a putative activator of the peroxisomal enzyme D-amino-acid-oxidase (DAO) and as a mitochondrial protein. We recently generated 'humanized' bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mice (G72Tg) expressing G72 transcripts in cells throughout the brain. These mice exhibit several behavioral phenotypes related to psychiatric diseases. Here we show that G72Tg mice have a reduced activity of mitochondrial complex I, with a concomitantly increased production of reactive oxygen species. Affected neurons display deficits in short-term plasticity and an impaired capability to sustain synaptic activity. These deficits lead to an impairment in spatial memory, which can be rescued by pharmacological treatment with the glutathione precursor N-acetyl cysteine. Our results implicate LG72-induced mitochondrial and synaptic defects as a possible pathomechanism of psychiatric disorders.

SUBMITTER: Otte DM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3176560 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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N-acetyl cysteine treatment rescues cognitive deficits induced by mitochondrial dysfunction in G72/G30 transgenic mice.

Otte David-Marian DM Sommersberg Britta B Kudin Alexei A Guerrero Catalina C Albayram Onder O Filiou Michaela D MD Frisch Pamela P Yilmaz Oznur O Drews Eva E Turck Christoph W CW Bilkei-Gorzó Andras A Kunz Wolfram S WS Beck Heinz H Zimmer Andreas A

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology 20110629 11

Genetic studies have implicated the evolutionary novel, anthropoid primate-specific gene locus G72/G30 in psychiatric diseases. This gene encodes the protein LG72 that has been discussed to function as a putative activator of the peroxisomal enzyme D-amino-acid-oxidase (DAO) and as a mitochondrial protein. We recently generated 'humanized' bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mice (G72Tg) expressing G72 transcripts in cells throughout the brain. These mice exhibit several behavioral phenot ...[more]

PMID: 21716263

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Project description:BackgroundEpidemiological data suggests statins could reduce the risk of dementia, and more specifically, Alzheimer's disease (AD). Pre-clinical data suggests statins reduce the risk of dementia through their pleiotropic effects rather than their cholesterol lowering effects. While AD is a leading cause of dementia, it is frequently found co-morbidly with cerebral small vessel disease and other vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), which are another leading cause of dementia. In this study, we determined if atorvastatin ameliorated hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy)-induced VCID.MethodsWild-type (C57Bl6/J) mice were placed on a diet to induce HHcy or a control diet each with or without atorvastatin for 14 weeks. Mice underwent novel object recognition testing before tissue collection. Plasma total cholesterol and total homocysteine as well as related metabolites were measured. Using qPCR and NanoString technology, we profiled glial cell-associated gene expression changes. Finally, microglial morphology, astrocyte end feet, and microhemorrhages were analyzed using histological methods.ResultsAtorvastatin treatment of HHcy in mice led to no changes in total cholesterol but decreases in total homocysteine in plasma. While HHcy decreased expression of many glial genes, atorvastatin rescued these gene changes, which mostly occurred in oligodendrocytes and microglia. Microglia in HHcy mice with atorvastatin were trending towards fewer processes compared to control with atorvastatin, but there were no atorvastatin effects on astrocyte end feet. While atorvastatin treatment was trending towards increasing the area of microhemorrhages in HHcy mice in the frontal cortex, it only slightly (non-significantly) reduced the number of microhemorrhages. Finally, atorvastatin treatment in HHcy mice led to improved cognition on the novel object recognition task.ConclusionsThese data suggest that atorvastatin rescued cognitive changes induced by HHcy most likely through lowering plasma total homocysteine and rescuing gene expression changes rather than impacts on vascular integrity or microglial changes.

Dataset Information

N-acetyl cysteine treatment rescues cognitive deficits induced by mitochondrial dysfunction in G72/G30 transgenic mice.

Publications

N-acetyl cysteine treatment rescues cognitive deficits induced by mitochondrial dysfunction in G72/G30 transgenic mice.

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