Levetiracetam suppresses neuronal network dysfunction and reverses synaptic and cognitive deficits in an Alzheimer’s disease model


BIBLIOGRAPHIC THERAPEUTIC AGENT ANIMAL MODEL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN OUTCOMES

Bibliographic

Year of Publication:
2012
Contact PI Name:
Lennart Mucke
Contact PI Affiliation:
Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, California, USA
Co-Authors:
Pascal E. Sanchez, Lei Zhu, Laure Verret, Keith A. Vossel, Anna G. Orr, John R. Cirrito, Nino Devidze, Kaitlyn Ho, Gui-Qiu Yu, Jorge J. Palop
Primary Reference (PubMED ID):
Funding Source:
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Study Goal and Principal Findings:

In light of the rising prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD), new strategies to prevent, halt, and reverse this condition are needed urgently. Perturbations of brain network activity are observed in AD patients and in conditions that increase the risk of developing AD, suggesting that aberrant network activity might contribute to AD-related cognitive decline. Human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) transgenic mice simulate key aspects of AD, including pathologically elevated levels of amyloid-β peptides in brain, aberrant neural network activity, remodeling of hippocampal circuits, synaptic deficits, and behavioral abnormalities. Whether these alterations are linked in a causal chain remains unknown. To explore whether hAPP/amyloid-β-induced aberrant network activity contributes to synaptic and cognitive deficits, we treated hAPP mice with different antiepileptic drugs. Among the drugs tested, only levetiracetam (LEV) effectively reduced abnormal spike activity detected by electroencephalography. Chronic treatment with LEV also reversed hippocampal remodeling, behavioral abnormalities, synaptic dysfunction, and deficits in learning and memory in hAPP mice. Our findings support the hypothesis that aberrant network activity contributes causally to synaptic and cognitive deficits in hAPP mice. LEV might also help ameliorate related abnormalities in people who have or are at risk for AD.

Therapeutic Agent

Therapeutic Information:
Therapy Type:
Small Molecule
Therapeutic Agent:
Levetiracetam
Therapeutic Target:
Synaptic Vesicle Protein 2A (SV2A)

Animal Model

Model Information:
Species:
Mouse
Model Type:
APP
Strain/Genetic Background:
C57BL/6

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
Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT)
Morris Water Maze
Elevated Plus Maze
Open Field Test
Histopathology
beta Amyloid Deposits
Biochemical
Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP)
APP-CTFs
Brain-beta Amyloid Peptide 40
Brain-beta Amyloid Peptide 42
ISF-beta Amyloid Peptide 40
ISF-beta Amyloid Peptide 42
Immunochemistry
Calbindin
Neuropeptide Y
cFos
Electrophysiology
Electroencephalogram (EEG) Spike Wave Discharge
Long Term Potentiation (LTP)
Synaptic Transmission Strength
Pharmacokinetics
Drug Concentration-Plasma

Source URL: http://alzped.nia.nih.gov/levetiracetam-suppresses