Abstract #4192

Cerebral Blood Volume & Metabolite Levels in Mouse Models for Alzheimer (APP/PS1) & Atherosclerosis (ApoE4 & ApoE Knockout): Genotype Differences & Early Effects of DHA & Cholesterol Containing Diets

Valerio Zerbi^1,2, Diane Jansen¹, Andor Veltien², Carola I. F. Janssen¹, Bastian Zinnhardt¹, Daan van Rooij¹, Yang Liu³, Alan J. Wright², P. Jos Dederen¹, Laus M. Broersen⁴, Amanda J. Kiliaan¹, Arend Heerschap²

¹Anatomy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands; ²Radiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands; ³Universitt des Saarlandes, Homburg, Germany; ⁴Danone Research, Wageningen, Netherlands

Research into Alzheimers disease (AD) suggests that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and cholesterol may affect the course of AD, possibly by influencing cerebral circulation and brain metabolism. Here we investigated cerebral blood volume (CBV) and hippocampal metabolite levels with MR imaging and spectroscopy in three different mouse models for genetic AD (APP/PS1) and atherosclerosis (ApoE4 and ApoE-ko) fed with cholesterol-enriched and DHA-enriched diets. Results showed decreased CBV, decreased NAA and increased myo-inositol in APP/PS1, and partly in ApoE4 and ApoE knockout mice. The DHA diet increased NAA levels in the AD mouse model in agreement with neurocognitive improvement.