Novel Defense by Metallothionein Induction Against Cognitive Decline: From Amyloid β1–42-Induced Excess Zn2 to Functional Zn2 Deficiency

Abstract

The role of metallothioneins (MTs) in cognitive decline associated with intracellular Zn2+ dysregulation remains unclear. Here, we report that hippocampal MT induction defends cognitive decline, which was induced by amyloid β1–42 (Aβ1–42)-mediated excess Zn2+ and functional Zn2+ deficiency. Excess increase in intracellular Zn2+, which was induced by local injection of Aβ1–42 into the dentate granule cell layer, attenuated in vivo perforant pathway LTP, while the attenuation was rescued by preinjection of MT inducers into the same region. Intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone, which increased hippocampal MT proteins and blocked Aβ1–42-mediated Zn2+ uptake, but not Aβ1–42 uptake, into den..