Abstract #2316

Decreased Functional Connectivity in ApoE4 and ApoE-Knockout Mice Revealed by Resting-State fMRI at Ultra-High Field

Valerio Zerbi¹, Maarten Van Beek¹, Diane Jansen¹, Christian F. Beckmann²,³, Amanda J. Kiliaan¹, Arend Heerschap⁴

¹Anatomy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, Netherlands; ²Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, Netherlands; ³MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands, Netherlands; ⁴Radiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, Netherlands

Cholesterol released from apoE-containing lipoprotein is used for synaptogenesis and synaptic maintenance. The apoE4 isoform is a less potent cholesterol transporter, which in turn is linked to impaired synaptic connectivity. Resting-state fMRI experiments showed marked differentiation in functional networks compared with non-apoE4 carriers. We tested in apoE4 and apoE-ko mice the hypothesis that dysfunctional apoE, and further its absence, are related to reduced brain functional connectivity.