Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsonism
Open Access

Abstract

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) pathology is characterized by the formation of intra-neuronal inclusions called Lewy bodies which
are comprised of alpha-synuclein (α-syn). PD is primarily a movement disorder but patients are known to experience
memory deficit and mood disorders. In the present study, we examined the effect of hA53T mutation during development
on the locomotor, anxiety-like behavior and spatial learning and memory abilities. We used the open-field test, elevated plus
maze, Morris water maze and rotarod tests to evaluate hA53T transgenic mice and wild-type littermate at 3, 6 and 9 months
of age. Results from open field and elevated plus maze tests show A53T mice develop age-dependent changes in locomotor
activity and reduced anxiety-like behavior. Results from Morris water maze task showed no obvious differences between A53T
transgenic mice and the wild type in the latency to escape on the hidden platform. In the probe test, A53T mice exhibit
unexpected improvements of learning and spatial memory abilities at 3 and 9 months as demonstrated by a significant increase
in spending more time in target quadrant on 5th and 7th days. Further studies by a reverse learning test also showed that 3 and
9-month-old transgenic mice spent more time in target quadrant compared with wild-type controls. No motor coordination
impairments were observed by rotarod tests in the transgenic mice at 3, 6 and 9 months. These results indicate a possible role
of the A53T α-syn mutation in enhancing spatial learning and memory abilities suggesting that these behaviors might be
disturbed in hA53T mutation PD mouse model.

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