Monitoring of cerebral hemodynamics during respiratory challenges in the 5XFAD mouse model: A potential biomarker to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (TAU) are biological markers of AD. The 5xFAD mice model accumulates Aβ plagues in brain tissue with aging. It has become one of the most popular AD models for research. Recent studies suggest that neurovascular dysfunction may be an integral part of AD pathogenesis. Progressive microvascular pathology and leakage were found in 5xFAD mice. Therefore, brain tissue is injured from not receiving enough blood, oxygen, or nutrients. We investigated cerebral hemodynamic changes during respiratory challenges and compared 5xFAD with normal mice by using an optical intrinsic signal imaging technique. Hypoxia and hypercapnia challenges were included in our respiratory protocols. During the experiment, physiological parameters didn’t change for critical values, but gave a stable hemodynamic response in the brain. The wild type had almost 1,5 times faster rate of response for low oxygen supply compared with the 5xFAD mouse model. But the 5xFAD mouse model shows a higher HbO rate of response for hypercapnia. Further investigation is needed, but data shows high potential.