Brain region-dependent increases in [beta]-amyloid and apolipoprotein E levels in hypercholesterolemic rabbits

• Published in: Journal of neural transmission Vol. 110; no. 6; p. 641
• Main Authors: C.-W. Wu, P.-C. Liao, Lin, C, C.-J. Kuo, S.-T. Chen, H.-I. Chen, Y.-M. Kuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wien Springer Nature B.V 01.06.2003
• ISSN: 0300-9564; 1435-1463
• DOI: 10.1007/s00702-002-0809-1

Recent studies indicate a possible link between serum cholesterol level, [beta]-amyloid (A[beta]) peptide concentrations, and the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present report, the effects of dietary cholesterol on A[beta] and apolipoprotein E (APOE) levels in several brain regions were examined using diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rabbits as the animal model. Increased dietary cholesterol levels increased A[beta] concentrations in temporal cortex (p = 0.02). A similar trend was observed in the frontal cortex (p = 0.06), yet not in the cerebellum. Interestingly, the regional levels of A[beta] in the hypercholesterolemic rabbit paralleled the amyloid pathology observed in AD brain. Elevated APOE levels were also noticed in temporal (p < 0.01) and frontal (p < 0.01) cortices, but not in cerebellum, in the rabbit fed with cholesterol-abundant diet. These results suggest that high serum cholesterol levels could induce the elevation of brain APOE, which may play a role in aggravating the A[beta] accumulation.