Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of Early Gait Abnormalities in AD Model Mice Induced by Acute Intracerebroventricular Injection of Aβ1-42

Yunuo WANG; Fuquan SHU; Lingyi HU; Quanzhu ZHOU; Chenhao ZHOU; Minrong YANG; Yu SUN; Kaixuan LUO

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Yunuo WANG, Fuquan SHU, Lingyi HU, Quanzhu ZHOU, Chenhao ZHOU, Minrong YANG, Yu SUN, Kaixuan LUO. Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of Early Gait Abnormalities in AD Model Mice Induced by Acute Intracerebroventricular Injection of Aβ1-42[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

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Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of Early Gait Abnormalities in AD Model Mice Induced by Acute Intracerebroventricular Injection of Aβ₁_-₄₂

1.
School of Rehabilitation, Kunming Medical University, Kunming Yunnan 650500
2.
Department of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming Yunnan 650032, China

Received Date: 2026-06-26

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To explore the acute effect of intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ₁_-₄₂ on mouseb gait and characterize the resulting gait alterations. Methods Sixty-four SPF-grade C57/BL6J mice were randomly assigned to a Control group（n = 32） and an AD group （n = 32）. The AD mouse model was established by intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ₁_-₄₂. Rotarod test, pole test, gait analysis, Y-maze test and novel object recognition test were performed in the early （3～7 d） and late （14～18 d） experimental stages （n = 20）. Western-blotting （WB） was used to detect Aβ levels in the bilateral striatum and hippocampus at day 5 （n = 6） and day 14 （n = 6） after modeling. Results There were no statistically significant differences in the performance of rotarod and pole tests between the two groups （P > 0.05）. Compared with the Control group, the AD mice exhibited significantly shortened stride length of all four limbs （P<0.001）, decreased forelimb and hindlimb stride width （P < 0.001）, increased coefficient of variation of stride length （P < 0.05）, and shortened step cycle under medium and high total speeds（P < 0.01） at day 5. No significant differences in stance phase and swing phase were observed between groups （P > 0.05）. At 6～7 d after modeling, the number of entries into and exploration distance within the novel arm of the Y-maze test showed no significant differences between the AD group and Control group （P > 0.05）. However, AD mice made fewer explorations of the novel object and spent less time exploring it than Control mice （P < 0.05）. At 14～15 d, AD mice showed significantly fewer entries into the novel Y-maze arm, a shorter exploration distance in that arm, and fewer and shorter explorations of the novel object than Control mice （P < 0.05）. At day 18, AD group showed markedly reduced limb stride length （P < 0.001）, decreased stride width （P < 0.001）, shortened step cycle （P < 0.001）, and elevated coefficient of variation of stride length （P < 0.01）, whereas no inter-group differences were found in stance phase and swing phase （P > 0.05）. Western blotting at days 5 and 14 showed no significant change in Aβ levels in the bilateral striatum of AD mice （P > 0.05）, whereas hippocampal Aβ levels were increased （P < 0.05）. Conclusion Acute intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ₁_-₄₂ induces gait abnormalities in mice, characterized by a short-stride, narrow-based walking pattern and increased stride variability.
- Alzheimer's disease,
- Dementia,
- Gait analysis,
- Motor function,
- Cognitive function

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References(35)

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