Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40083218›Full record

ArticleActa physiologica (Oxford, England)2025

Early signs of neuron autonomous and non-autonomous hyperexcitability in locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons of a mouse model of tauopathy and Alzheimer's disease.

Zhong-Min Wang, Valentina Grinevich, William R Meeker, Jie Zhang, María Laura Messi, Evgeny Budygin, Osvaldo Delbono

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Acta physiologica (Oxford, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Zhong-Min WangDepartment of Internal Medicine, Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Valentina GrinevichDepartment of Internal Medicine, Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
William R MeekerDepartment of Internal Medicine, Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Jie ZhangDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
María Laura MessiDepartment of Internal Medicine, Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Evgeny BudyginDepartment of Internal Medicine, Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Osvaldo DelbonoDepartment of Internal Medicine, Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-1613-8202

Funding

CTSA UM1 Program at Wake ForestUM1TR004929 · NCATS · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI Jamy D Ard, KRISTIE L FOLEY · 2024 to 2026
$11.9M
Role of Central Autonomic Relays in Aging SarcopeniaR01AG071545 · NIA · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI Osvaldo Delbono · 2022 to 2026
$2.9M
Accelerated Sarcopenia in Early Alzheimer's DiseaseR01AG080586 · NIA · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI DELBONO, OSVALDO · 2023 to 2025
$2.3M
The Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System in the Onset and Development of SarcopeniaR01AG057013 · NIA · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI DELBONO, OSVALDO · 2017 to 2021
$2.0M
NCATS NIH HHS UM1 TR004929NIA NIH HHS R01 AG057013NIA NIH HHS R01 AG071545NIA NIH HHS R01 AG080586NIH HHS
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimThe locus coeruleus (LC) is one of the earliest brain regions affected by phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using the P301S mouse model, we investigated the temporal progression of tau pathology and its functional consequences.

methodsImmunohistochemistry was used to assess p-tau deposition in LC noradrenergic neurons at 2-3 and 5-6 months. Electrophysiological recordings evaluated neuronal hyperexcitability, measuring membrane potential, rheobase, and spontaneous action potential (AP) frequency in P301S and wild-type (WT) mice. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) was used to measure norepinephrine (NE) release. GABA(A) receptor subunit expression was analyzed via immunoblotting.

resultsP-tau was detected in LC neurons as early as 2-3 months, with a rostral-to-caudal gradient, and by 5-6 months, nearly all LC neurons exhibited p-tau immunoreactivity. P301S neurons showed hyperexcitability, characterized by depolarized membrane potentials, a more negative rheobase, and increased spontaneous AP frequency. Synaptic blockade elicited a reduced increase in AP frequency, suggesting diminished inhibitory tone. GABA(A) α2 subunit expression significantly declined with age in P301S mice, whereas α3 remained unchanged. FSCV showed significantly elevated NE release in P301S mice at 3 and 6 months compared to WT.

conclusionThe findings highlight early LC dysfunction in tauopathies, characterized by increased excitability, reduced inhibitory tone, and exaggerated NE release. This hyperactivity may contribute to excitotoxicity and downstream dysfunction in LC-regulated brain regions. Targeting LC hyperactivity and restoring inhibitory signaling could be promising therapeutic strategies for mitigating AD progression.

Indexed as

Adrenergic NeuronsAlzheimer DiseaseLocus CoeruleusTauopathiesAction PotentialsAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, TransgenicNorepinephrinetau ProteinsNorepinephrinetau ProteinsagingAlzheimer's diseasehyperexcitabilitylocus coeruleusnoradrenergic neuronsynapsetauopathy

Identifiers

PMID40083218
PMCPMC11922040

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.