Amyloid precursor protein processing and retinal pathology in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Background: Retinal ganglion cell loss is considered to be a cause of visual impairment in Alzheimer's patients. Alterations in amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation, key molecules associated with Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis, may therefore contribute to retinal damage. We therefore investigated retinal APP processing and eye morphology in Alzheimer's transgenic mouse models. Methods: Eyes and brain samples of 2- to 18-month-old transgenic mice expressing human APP with the double Swedish mutation (APPswe) (APP K595N/M596L)(Tg2576) were compared with eyes and brain tissue from wild-type background C57BL6xSJL controls. In addition, 6- to 12-month-old d..