No evidence in support of a prodromal respiratory control signature in the TgF344-AD rat model of Alzheimer’s disease

  • Eric F. Lucking
  • , Kevin H. Murphy
  • , David P. Burns
  • , Anirudh V. Jaisimha
  • , Kevin J. Barry-Murphy
  • , Pardeep Dhaliwal
  • , Barry Boland
  • , Mark G. Rae
  • , Ken D. O’Halloran
  • , Ken D. O'Halloran

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition disturbing major brain networks, including those pivotal to the motor control of breathing. The aim of this study was to examine respiratory control in the TgF344-AD transgenic rat model of AD. At 8–11 months of age, basal minute ventilation and ventilatory responsiveness to chemostimulation were equivalent in conscious wild-type (WT) and TgF344-AD rats. Under urethane anesthesia, basal diaphragm and genioglossus EMG activities were similar in WT and TgF344-AD rats. The duration of phenylbiguanide-induced apnoea was significantly shorter in TgF344-AD rats compared with WT. Following bilateral cervical vagotomy, diaphragm and genioglossus EMG responsiveness to chemostimulation were intact in TgF344-AD rats. Amyloid precursor protein C-terminal fragments were elevated in the TgF344-AD brainstem, in the absence of amyloid-β accumulation or alterations in tau phosphorylation. Brainstem pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations were not increased in TgF344-AD rats. We conclude that neural control of breathing is preserved in TgF344-AD rats at this stage of the disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)55-67
Number of pages13
JournalRespiratory Physiology & Neurobiology
Volume265
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2019

Keywords

  • Amyloid precursor protein
  • Neuroinflammation
  • Presenilin-1
  • Pulmonary chemoreflex
  • Respiratory behaviour

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