Effects of prenatal stress exposure on soluble A beta and brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling in male and female APPswe/PS1dE9 mice

Annerieke S. R. Sierksma, Tim Vanmierlo, Jochen De Vry, Marjolein E. A. Raijmakers, Harry W. M. Steinbusch, Daniel L. A. van den Hove, Jos Prickaerts*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Chronic stress and stress-related disorders, such as major depression (MD), have been shown to increase the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been postulated as a neurophysiological link between these illnesses. Our previous research has indicated that exposing the APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse model of AD to prenatal maternal stress (PS) induced a depressive-like phenotype, specifically in female mice. Considering the role of BDNF in depressive-like behavior and its interactions with amyloid-beta (A beta), our aim was to explore whether these mice would also exhibit alterations in soluble A beta, mature BDNF (mBDNF), proBDNF, and the receptors TrkB and p75(NTR) in comparison to non-stressed animals. Our results demonstrate that female APPswe/PS1dE9 mice have higher levels of hippocampal proBDNF and soluble A beta as compared to their male littermates. Additionally, a tendency was observed for PS to lower mBDNF protein levels in the hippocampus, but only in female mice, while receptor levels remained unaltered by sex or PS exposure. Given that female mice both have higher proBDNF and A beta levels, these findings suggest an underlying role for BDNF signaling and A beta production in the selective vulnerability of women for MD and AD development.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)697-701
JournalNeurochemistry International
Volume61
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2012

Keywords

  • Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
  • TrkB
  • p75(NTR)
  • Prenatal stress
  • Alzheimer's disease
  • APPswe/PS1dE9

Cite this