Journal
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS
Volume 175, Issue 1, Pages 96-103Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2008.08.001
Keywords
A beta(1-42); Synaptogenesis; Quantitative synapse assay; Primary neurons
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Synaptic loss represents one of the earliest signs of neuronal damage and is observed within both Alzheimer's disease patients and transgenic mouse models of the disease. We have developed a novel in vitro assay using high content screening technology to measure changes in a number of cell physiological parameters simultaneously within a neuronal population. Using Hoechst-33342 to label nuclei, Pill-tubulin as a neuron-specific marker, and synapsin-1 as an indicator of pre-synaptic sites, we have designed software to interrogate triple-labelled images, counting only those synaptic puncta associated with tubulin-positive structures. Here we demonstrate that addition of amyloid beta peptide (A beta(1-42)), to either primary hippocampal or cortical neurons for 4 days in vitro has deleterious effects upon synapse formation, neurite outgrowth and arborisation in a concentration-dependent manner. Control reverse peptide showed no effect over the same concentration range. The effects of A beta(1-42) were inhibited by D-KLVFFA, which contains residues 16-20 of A beta that function as a self-recognition element during A beta assembly and bind to the homologous region of A beta and block its oligomerisation. These effects of A beta(1-42) on synapse number and neurite outgrowth are similar to those described within AD patient pathology and transgenic mouse models. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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