Difference in ability for extracellular Zn 2 influx between human and rat amyloid β 1-42 and its significance

Abstract

The accumulation of amyloid-β 1–42 (Aβ 1–42 ), a constituively-generated peptide, in the brain is considered an upstream event in pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Aβ 1–42 -induced pathophysiology has been extensively studied in experimental mice and rats. However, neurotoxicity of murine Aβ 1–42 is much less understood than human Aβ 1–42 . Here we report difference in ability for extracellular Zn 2+ influx into dentate granule cells of rats between human and rat Aβ 1–42 and its significance. Human Aβ 1–42 rapidly increased intracellular Zn 2+ , which was determined with intracellular ZnAF-2, in dentate granule cells, 5 min after injection of Aβ 1–42 (25 μM, 1 μl) into the dentate gyrus, ..