Effects of Maternal Environment on Behavioural Development in Young Adult 3xTg-AD and B6129S/F2 Mice

Abstract

The 3xTg-AD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has three transgenes, one human gene from familial AD (APPswe), one mutated mouse gene (PS1M1461), and one human gene associated with tau pathology (tauP301L). Transgenic and wildtype (B6129S/F2) mice must be bred as separate lines. We cross fostered litters of transgenic and wildtype mice and measured their behaviour at two and six months of age. We found that transgenic mice had lowered anxiety-like behaviours, decreased locomotion, and improved motor performance at two and six months of age. Transgenic mice had a deficit in visuo-spatial learning, but not memory at two and six months. There were several differences between mice reared by wildtype and transgenic mothers, though there was no overall pattern of differences on any measures. At two and six months of age this strain is beginning to demonstrate some behavioural changes that would be expected in a mouse model of AD.