Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences
FOCUS AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
– Biomarkers, risk factors and modifiers of neurodegeneration with cognitive impairment:
Investigate age-related structural changes in neurons of the hippocampus and central auditory system in animal models of dementia.
This work package is focused on studying mutual relationship between deficits in central part of auditory system and cognition (particularly spatial and social cognition) in rodent models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To this aim, a rat model of AD on Fischer 344 (F344) background will be used. The rat strain Fischer 344 (F344) offers a unique approach for studying pathological processes behind dementia and presbycusis. F344 rats develop relatively soon age-related hearing loss with a fast progression. In addition, a transgenic rat model of AD (TgF344-AD) is available as a model of progressive deteriorating cognition. These rats have incorporated a human mutant gene for amyloid precursor protein (APP) and a human gene for PSEN1 lacking exon E9. Furthermore, to get more translationally powerful and valid results, we will perform the same experiments with analogous mice AD model (B6;C3- Tg(APPswe,PSEN1dE9)85Dbo/Mmjax) carrying the same human AD-related genes.