Age Dependent Decrease of Mitochondrial Complex II Activity in a Familial Mouse Model for Alzheimer's Disease.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder for which the exact etiology is largely unknown. An increasingly recognized and investigated notion is the pathogenic role of mitochondrial dysfunction in AD. We assessed mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) enzyme activities in the APPswe/PS1DE9 mouse model from 4.5 to 14 months of age. We show an age dependent decrease in mitochondrial complex II activity starting at 9 months in APP/PS1 mice. Other enzymes of the OXPHOS do not show any alterations. Since amyloid b (Ab) plaques are already present from 4 months of age, mitochondrial dysfunction likely occurs downstream of Ab pathology in this mouse model.
Journal of Alzheimer's disease JAD