Intracerebroventricular streptozotocin induces obesity and dementia in lewis rats

Konstantin Bloch*, Irit Gil-Ad, Alexey Vanichkin, Shay Henry Hornfeld, Nickolay Koroukhov, Michal Taler, Pnina Vardi, Abraham Weizman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Animal models of dementia associated with metabolic abnormalities play an important role in understanding the bidirectional relationships between these pathologies. Rodent strains develop cognitive dysfunctions without alteration of peripheral metabolism following intracerebroventricular administration of streptozotocin (icv-STZ). Objective:We aimed to estimate the effect of icv-STZ on cognitive functions and peripheral metabolism in Lewis rats, which are rarely used for the induction of cognitive abnormalities. Methods: Inbred adult Lewis rats were treated with single icv-STZ (3 mg/kg). Cognitive functions were assessed using Morris water maze (MWM) test and locomotion by the Open Field test. Metabolic alterations were studied using histological and biochemical analysis of brain and peripheral tissues. Results: The icv-STZ induced rapid weight decline during the first two weeks. Thereafter, the rats showed an accelerated weight gain. Three months after the icv-STZ treatment, the rats were severely obese and revealed fatty liver, pancreatic islet hypertrophy, significantly elevated levels of blood insulin, leptin, and adiponectin, but intact peripheral glucose homeostasis. The icv-STZ rats expressed amyloid- deposits in blood vessels of leptomeningeal area, microgliosis, astrogliosis, and spongiosis in fimbria-fornix area of hippocampus. Locomotor activities of icv-STZ treated and sham-operated rats were similar. In the MWM test, the icv-STZ treated rats demonstrated severely impaired spatial learning during both acquisition and reversal phases. Conclusions: Icv-STZ treated Lewis rats develop severe dementia associated with obesity and peripheral metabolic abnormalities. This animal model may be useful for exploring the pathophysiological relationship between obesity and dementia and provides a new tool for development of effective therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)121-136
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Alzheimer's Disease
Volume60
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

Keywords

  • Animal models
  • body weight changes
  • cognitive decline
  • intracerebroventricular administration of streptozotocin
  • neuroinflammation
  • peripheral metabolic dysfunctions

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Intracerebroventricular streptozotocin induces obesity and dementia in lewis rats'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this