[HTML][HTML] Cross-species translation of the Morris maze for Alzheimer's disease

KL Possin, PE Sanchez… - The Journal of …, 2016 - Am Soc Clin Investig
KL Possin, PE Sanchez, C Anderson-Bergman, R Fernandez, GA Kerchner, ET Johnson
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2016Am Soc Clin Investig
Analogous behavioral assays are needed across animal models and human patients to
improve translational research. Here, we examined the extent to which performance in the
Morris water maze—the most frequently used behavioral assay of spatial learning and
memory in rodents—translates to humans. We designed a virtual version of the assay for
human subjects that includes the visible-target training, hidden-target learning, and probe
trials that are typically administered in the mouse version. We compared transgenic mice …
Analogous behavioral assays are needed across animal models and human patients to improve translational research. Here, we examined the extent to which performance in the Morris water maze — the most frequently used behavioral assay of spatial learning and memory in rodents — translates to humans. We designed a virtual version of the assay for human subjects that includes the visible-target training, hidden-target learning, and probe trials that are typically administered in the mouse version. We compared transgenic mice that express human amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) and patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease (MCI-AD) to evaluate the sensitivity of performance measures in detecting deficits. Patients performed normally during visible-target training, while hAPP mice showed procedural learning deficits. In hidden-target learning and probe trials, hAPP mice and MCI-AD patients showed similar deficits in learning and remembering the target location. In addition, we have provided recommendations for selecting performance measures and sample sizes to make these assays sensitive to learning and memory deficits in humans with MCI-AD and in mouse models. Together, our results demonstrate that with careful study design and analysis, the Morris maze is a sensitive assay for detecting AD-relevant impairments across species.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation