Synaptic loss in Alzheimer's disease: Mechanistic insights provided by two-photon imaging of transgenic mouse models

Date

2020

Authors

Subramanian, Jaichandar
Savage, Julie C.
Tremblay, Marie-Ève

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience

Abstract

Synapse loss is the strongest correlate for cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. The mechanisms underlying synapse loss have been extensively investigated using mouse models expressing genes with human familial Alzheimer's disease mutations. In this review, we summarize how multiphoton imaging has improved our understanding of synapse loss mechanisms associated with excessive amyloid in the living animal brain. We also discuss evidence obtained from these imaging studies for the role of cell-intrinsic calcium dyshomeostasis and cell-extrinsic activities of microglia, which are the immune cells of the brain, in mediating synapse loss.

Description

Keywords

dendritic spines, microglia, two-photon, in vivo imaging, amyloid mouse models

Citation

Subramanian, J., Savage, J. C., & Tremblay, M-È. (2020). Synaptic loss in Alzheimer's disease: mechanistic insights provided by two-photon in vivo imaging of transgenic mouse models. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 14, 592607. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2020.592607