34th Annual Student Research Conference
Role of Amyloid Beta in Breathing Dysfunction Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease
Mansi Trivedi
Dr. Tim Ostrowski (ATSU) and Dr. Brent Buckner, Faculty Mentors
We used APP/PS1 transgenic mice to study the association between amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and disordered breathing in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Using plethysmography, we analyzed respiratory function and responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia at 4 (pre-amyloid plaques), 8 (early Aβ build-up), and 12 months (late Aβ build-up) of age. While respiratory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia were similar at the pre-amyloid stage, early Aβ build-up led to a blunted response of respiratory rate (RR) under hypercapnia. This blunted increase of RR was compensated by a greater tidal volume (TV). Reduced response of RR to CO2 continued during late Aβ build-up. In addition, TV decreased at this late stage, leading to abnormal decrease of minute ventilation. Our results resemble a lowered arousal under hypercapnic conditions, which may contribute to the mechanism behind disordered breathing in AD patients.
Keywords: Physiology, Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid beta, transgenic mice, respiration
Topic(s):Biology
Biology
Biology
Presentation Type: Asynchronous Virtual Poster
Session: 4-7
Location: https://flipgrid.com/7ba08930
Time: 0:00