Oral nimodipine treatment has no effect on amyloid pathology or neuritic dystrophy in the 5XFAD mouse model of amyloidosis


BIBLIOGRAPHIC THERAPEUTIC AGENT ANIMAL MODEL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN OUTCOMES

Bibliographic

Year of Publication:
2021
Contact PI Name:
Robert Vassar
Contact PI Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Co-Authors:
Katherine R. Sadleir
Primary Reference (PubMED ID):
Funding Source:
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Baila Foundation
Study Goal and Principal Findings:

Dysregulation of calcium homeostasis has been hypothesized to play a role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Increased calcium levels can impair axonal transport, disrupt synaptic transmission, and ultimately lead to cell death. Given the potential role of calcium dyshomeostasis in AD, there is interest in testing the ability of already approved drugs targeting various calcium channels to affect amyloid pathology and other aspects of disease. The objective of this study was to test the effects of FDA-approved L-type calcium channel antagonist nimodipine on amyloid accumulation and dystrophic neurite formation in 5XFAD mice, a mouse model of amyloid pathology. 5XFAD transgenic mice and non-transgenic littermates were treated with vehicle or nimodipine-containing chow from two to eight months of age, then brains were harvested and amyloid pathology assessed by immunoblot and immunofluorescence microscopy analyses. Nimodipine was well tolerated and crossed the blood brain barrier, as expected, but there was no effect on Aβ accumulation or on the relative amount of neuritic dystrophy, as assessed by either immunoblot, dot blot or immunofluorescence imaging of Aβ42 and dystrophic neurite marker LAMP1. While we conclude that nimodipine treatment is not likely to improve amyloid pathology or decrease neuritic dystrophy in AD, it is worth noting that nimodipine did not worsen the phenotype suggesting its use is safe in AD patients.

Bibliographic Notes:
Katherine R. Sadleir and Robert Vassar are corresponding authors on this paper.

Therapeutic Agent

Therapeutic Information:
Therapy Type:
Small Molecule
Therapeutic Agent:
Nimodipine
Therapeutic Target:
L-Type Calcium Channel/Dihydropyridine (DHP) Channel

Animal Model

Model Information:
Species:
Mouse
Model Type:
APPxPS1
Strain/Genetic Background:
B6/SJL F1

Experimental Design

Is the following information reported in the study?:
Power/Sample Size Calculation
Randomized into Groups
Blinded for Treatment
Blinded for Outcome Measures
Pharmacokinetic Measures
Pharmacodynamic Measures
Toxicology Measures
ADME Measures
Biomarkers
Dose
Formulation
Route of Delivery
Duration of Treatment
Frequency of Administration
Age of Animal at the Beginning of Treatment
Age of Animal at the End of Treatment
Sex as a Biological Variable
Study Balanced for Sex as a Biological Variable
Number of Premature Deaths
Number of Excluded Animals
Statistical Plan
Genetic Background
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria Included
Conflict of Interest

Outcomes

Outcome Measured
Outcome Parameters
Behavioral
Contextual Fear Conditioning
Cued Fear Conditioning
Spontaneous Alternation
Y Maze
Histopathology
beta Amyloid Deposits
beta Amyloid Load
Dystrophic Neurites
Biochemical
Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP)
Brain-beta Amyloid Peptide 42
beta-Site Amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme 1 (BACE1)
Autophagosomal Marker LC3-I
Autophagosomal Marker LC3-II
Lysosomal Associated Membrane Protein 1 (LAMP1)
Immunochemistry
Brain-beta Amyloid Deposits
Brain-beta Amyloid Peptide 42
Amyloid Plaque Size
Lysosomal Associated Membrane Protein 1 (LAMP1)
Pharmacokinetics
Drug Concentration-Brain
Toxicology
Body Weight
Physiology
Blood Pressure

Source URL: http://alzped.nia.nih.gov/oral-nimodipine-treatment-has