Spatial Memory and Microglia Activation in a Mouse Model of Chronic Neuroinflammation and the Anti-inflammatory Effects of Apigenin

Rose Chesworth, Rashmi Gamage, Faheem Ullah, Sandra Sonego, Christopher Millington, Amanda Fernandez, Huazheng Liang, Tim Karl, Gerald Münch, Garry Niedermayer, Erika Gyengesi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Chronic neuroinflammation characterized by microglia reactivity is one of the main underlying processes in the initiation and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. This project characterized spatial memory during healthy aging and prolonged neuroinflammation in the chronic neuroinflammatory model, glial fibrillary acidic protein-interleukin 6 (GFAP-IL6). We investigated whether chronic treatment with the natural flavonoid, apigenin, could reduce microglia activation in the hippocampus and improve spatial memory. GFAP-IL6 transgenic and wild-type-like mice were fed with apigenin-enriched or control chow from 4 months of age and tested for spatial memory function at 6 and 22 months using the Barnes maze. Brain tissue was collected at 22 months to assess microgliosis and morphology using immunohistochemistry, stereology, and 3D single cell reconstruction. GFAP-IL6 mice showed age-dependent loss of spatial memory recall compared with wild-type-like mice. Chronic apigenin treatment decreased the number of Iba-1+ microglia in the hippocampus of GFAP-IL6 mice and changed microglial morphology. Apigenin did not reverse spatial memory recall impairment in GFAP-IL6 mice at 22 months of age. GFAP-IL6 mice may represent a suitable model for age-related neurodegenerative disease. Chronic apigenin supplementation significantly reduced microglia activation, but this did not correspond with spatial memory improvement in the Barnes Maze.

Original languageEnglish
Article number699329
Number of pages14
JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience
Volume15
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jul 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • aging
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • animal – mouse
  • flavonoids
  • microglia
  • spatial memory
  • stereological analyses

Cite this