Apolipoprotein () genes expression in the CA3 region of the hippocampus in an ischemic model of Alzheimer's disease with survival up to 2 years.

BACKGROUND

Changes in the Alzheimer's disease-related apolipoprotein genes expression, occurring parallel with brain ischemia-induced neurodegeneration in the hippocampal CA3 area, may be crucial for the development of memory loss and dementia.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate changes in genes expression of () () and () in CA3 area post-ischemia with survival of 2 years.

METHODS

The gene expression was evaluated with the use of an RT-PCR protocol after 2, 7, and 30 days and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post-ischemia.

RESULTS

The expression of the gene (encoding apolipoprotein A1) was below the control values at 2 days, 6 and 12 months while at 7 and 30 days and 18 and 24 months post-ischemia this gene expression exceeded the control values. In the case of the gene (encoding clusterin) expression, it was above the control values at all times post-ischemia. Similar expression was observed for the gene (encoding apolipoprotein E) except on day 7 after ischemia where its expression was below the control value.

CONCLUSIONS

The results seem to indicate that the observed changes in the gene expression may reflect the activation and inhibition of a variety of processes involved in ischemia-induced neurodegeneration. The enhanced expression of and genes may be associated with induction of neuroprotective mechanisms while increased expression of the gene may produce detrimental effects.