Title:Amisulpride Decreases Tau Protein Hyperphosphorylation in the Brain of
OXYS Rats
Volume: 20
Issue: 7
Author(s): Camilla A. Molobekova, Elena M. Kondaurova, Tatiana V. Ilchibaeva, Alexander Ya. Rodnyy*, Natalia A. Stefanova, Nataliya G. Kolosova and Vladimir S. Naumenko*
Affiliation:
- Federal Research Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
Akad. Lavrentyeva Ave. 10, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
- Federal Research Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
Akad. Lavrentyeva Ave. 10, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
Keywords:
Alzheimer's disease, tau pathology, 5-HT7 receptor, amisulpride, rat model of Alzheimer's disease, OXYS rats.
Abstract:
Aim: In this study, OXYS rats of three ages (1, 3, and 6 months), a proven model of
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), at various stages of disease progression were used to thoroughly study
the effects of amisulpride on behavior and tau protein phosphorylation.
Background: With the growing number of patients with AD, the problem of finding a cure is very
acute. Neurodegeneration in AD has various causes, one of which is hyperphosphorylation of tau
protein.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether amisulpride would affect pathological tau phosphorylation
in AD.
Methods: We assessed the influence of chronic administration of amisulpride (3 weeks, 3 mg/kg
per day, intraperitoneally)-a 5-HT7 receptor inverse agonist-on behavior and tau hyperphosphorylation
in OXYS rats (at ages of 1, 3, and 6 months).
Results: Chronic administration of amisulpride dramatically decreased tau phosphorylation in the
frontal cortex and hippocampus of 3-month-old OXYS rats. Additionally, in 1- and 3-month-old
rats’ hippocampi, amisulpride diminished the mRNA level of the Cdk5 gene encoding one of the
main tau kinases involved in the 5-HT7 receptor-induced effect on tau phosphorylation.
Conclusion: Thus, We found that chronic administration of amisulpride could reduce pathological
tau hyperphosphorylation while reducing anxiety. We propose amisulpride to have therapeutic potential
against AD and that it can be the most effective in the early stages of the disease.