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Invest Ophthalmol Vis SciJanuary 20251 citations

Age- and Sex-Specific Regulation of Serine Racemase in the Retina of an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse.

Wang Yan, Xu Dehuan, Zhao Yuhang, Zhu Haiyu, Xiu Xiaoyu, Jiang Haiyan, Liu Yimei, Shan Ge, Wu Shengzhou


AI Summary

This study found age- and sex-specific serine racemase changes in AD mouse retinas correlated with pathology, but occurred too late for early detection, suggesting use for staging or monitoring interventions.

Abstract

Purpose

Changes associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) may have measurable effects on the retina, which may facilitate early detection due to the eye's accessibility. Retinal pathology and the regulation of serine racemase (SR) were investigated in the retinas of APP(SW)/PS1(∆E9) mice.

Methods

SR in the retinas and the content of D-serine in the aqueous humor were analyzed. The structure and function of the retina were assessed. Additionally, the regulation of SR in primary Müller cell cultures was investigated.

Results

SR levels were significantly higher in the retinas of 18- and 24-month-old male APP/PS1 mice, whereas aqueous humor D-serine was lower in 24-month-old APP/PS1 male mice compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Neither Aβ nor 17β-estradiol increased SR, but the combination of both did in Müller cell cultures. In contrast, 17β-estradiol increased Srr mRNA in the cultures. At 8 months of age, male APP/PS1 mice began to display reduced b-wave amplitude in scotopic and photopic electroretinography (ERG) recordings, unlike female APP/PS1 mice. Although the retinal layer thickness in APP/PS1 mice did not differ from WT mice, there was overt apoptosis in the inner and outer nuclear layers of the APP/PS1 mice retinas.

Conclusions

The age- and sex-specific regulation of SR is correlated with the pathology of an AD retina. Because the time window for SR regulation and D-serine alteration occurs after photoreceptor dysfunction in the AD retinas, it has limited value as a detection biomarker but may be useful as a topographic biomarker for staging severity and monitoring drug interventions in the eye or central nervous system.


MeSH Terms

AnimalsRacemases and EpimerasesAlzheimer DiseaseMiceMaleRetinaFemaleDisease Models, AnimalMice, TransgenicMice, Inbred C57BLElectroretinographyAqueous HumorSerineAgingEpendymoglial CellsCells, CulturedSex FactorsRNA, MessengerSerine Racemase

Key Concepts5

Serine racemase (SR) levels were significantly higher in the retinas of 18- and 24-month-old male APP/PS1 mice compared to wild-type (WT) mice.

MechanismBasic ScienceExperimental Animal Studyn=Not specified, multiple groups of APP…Ch2Ch5

Aqueous humor D-serine was lower in 24-month-old APP/PS1 male mice compared to wild-type (WT) mice.

MechanismBasic ScienceExperimental Animal Studyn=Not specified, multiple groups of APP…Ch2Ch5

Neither Aβ nor 17β-estradiol alone increased serine racemase (SR) levels, but the combination of both did in primary Müller cell cultures.

MechanismBasic ScienceIn Vitro Studyn=Not specified, primary Müller cell cu…Ch2Ch5

At 8 months of age, male APP/PS1 mice began to display reduced b-wave amplitude in scotopic and photopic electroretinography (ERG) recordings, unlike female APP/PS1 mice.

PrognosisBasic ScienceExperimental Animal Studyn=Not specified, male and female APP/PS…Ch5Ch7

Overt apoptosis was observed in the inner and outer nuclear layers of the APP/PS1 mice retinas, despite no difference in retinal layer thickness compared to wild-type (WT) mice.

MechanismBasic ScienceExperimental Animal Studyn=Not specified, APP/PS1 and WT miceCh5

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