Age-Related Changes in Motor Ability and Motor Learning in Triple Transgenic (3×TG-AD) and Control (B6129SF1/J) Mice on the Accelerating Rotarod

Abstract

Mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) show both cognitive and neuromotor impairments. We measured motor ability and motor learning of male and female triple transgenic (3×Tg-AD) and control (B6129SF1/J) mice on the accelerating Rotarod in a cross-sectional design at 2, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months of age. At all ages except for 2 months, transgenic mice performed better and had a steeper motor learning curve than controls. Female mice showed better motor performance than males, while males had a steeper learning curve than females. Age did not have a significant main effect on Rotarod performance. However, age and genotype showed an interaction, where the performance of 3×Tg-AD mice peaked at 6 months of age and decreased as age increased. The performance of controls was below that of 3×Tg-AD mice at each age. Behavioural differences seen in the 3×Tg-AD mice may help us to understand the development of neuromotor dysfunction in AD.