Differences of AD-related parameters in SAM-P/8, SAM-R/1 and Kunming mice

AIM: To investigate the differences of Alzheimers disease(AD)-related parameters in the SAM-P/8, the SAM-R/1 and the Kunming mice.METHODS: The changes of ethology, neurobiochemistry (true choline esterase, TchE), ultrastructure and gene expression(gene chips) were determined in mice of three groups: SAM-P/8 mice (n=14), SAM-R/1 mice (n=14) and Kunming mice (n=14), which were 6 months old［weight(20±5)g］.RESULTS: The SAM-P/8 mice had the inabilities of learning and memory compared with the SAM-R/1 mice and the Kunming mice (P<0.05). The activity of TchE in the SAM-P/8 mice was higher than that in the SAM-R/1 mice and the Kunming mice (P<0.05). Moreover, neurodegeneration was observed in the hippocampus neuron, and the apoptotic gene expression was up-regulation in mice of SAM-P/8 group. In constrast, neurodegeneration and the up-regulation of the apoptotic gene expression in the SAM-R/1 mice and the Kunming mice were not observed.There were some differences in expression of a few genes between the SAM-R/1 and the Kunming mice except for the apoptotic gene expression.Howerer, There was no difference among abilities of learning and memory, TchE and ultrastructure in SAM-R/1 and Kunming mice.CONCLUSION: The SAM-P/8 mice show many characteristics like Alzheimers disease that are significantly different from those in SAM-R/1 mice and Kunming mice. In some circumstauces, Kunming mice can also serve as control in the AD study.