Cholinergic system.

<p>Effects of oAβ_25–35 (10 µg/rat) icv injection on VAChT immunolabelling within the nucleus basalis of Meynert (A), mediobasal hypothalamus (B), parietal cortex (C) and hippocampus (D) determined in control untreated rats and 6 weeks after Aβ_25–35 injection. In (B): 3v: third ventricle. In (C): levels I to V cortical layers are indicated. In (D): brackets show the hippocampus granular cell layer. cc: corpus callosum. Scale bars  = 100 µm. Variations in VAChT levels in the hypothalamus (B) and hippocampus (D), determined in rats by western blot 6 weeks after icv injection of scrambled Aβ_25–35 peptide (10 µg/rat; negative control) or oAβ_25–35 (10 µg/rat). VAChT (70 kDa) variations were normalized with β-tubulin (β-tub, 55 kDa) variations and compared with untreated rats (control group: C). The results are expressed as means ± SEM. *p<0.05 and **p<0.01 <i>vs</i>. control group, +p<0.05 and ++p<0.01 <i>vs</i>. scrambled treated rats. The number of animals in each group is indicated within the columns.</p

Oxidative stress.

<p>Variations in lipid peroxidation levels in the frontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus, determined in rats 6 weeks after icv injection of scrambled Aβ_25–35 peptide (10 µg/rat; negative control) or oAβ_25–35 (10 µg/rat). The results are expressed as means ± SEM. **p<0.01 <i>vs</i>. control un-injected rats (control group: C), +p<0.05 and ++p<0.01 <i>vs.</i> scrambled treated rats. The number of animals in each group is indicated within the columns.</p

ER stress.

<p>Variations in pro- and activated caspase-12 levels in the frontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus, determined in rats by western blot 6 weeks after oAβ_25–35 icv injection (10 µg/rat). Pro-caspase-12 (50 kDa) and activated caspase-12 (25 kDa) variations were normalized with β-tubulin (β-tub, 55 kDa) variations and compared with untreated rats (control group: C). The results are expressed as means ± SEM. *p<0.05 and **p<0.01 <i>vs</i>. control group, +p<0.05 and ++p<0.01 <i>vs.</i> scrambled treated rats. Note that scrambled peptide injection (10 µg/rat) served as negative control and did not induce any modifications in pro- and activated caspase-12 levels. The number of animals in each group is indicated within the columns.</p

Apoptosis.

<p>Variations in pro- and activated caspase-3 levels in the frontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus, determined in rats by western blot 6 weeks after oAβ_25–35 icv injection (10 µg/rat). Pro-caspase-3 (35 kDa) and activated caspase-3 (19 kDa) variations were normalized with β-tubulin (β-tub, 55 kDa) variations and compared with untreated rats (control group: C). The results are expressed as means ± SEM. *p<0.05 and **p<0.01 <i>vs</i>. control group, +p<0.05 and ++p<0.01 <i>vs.</i> scrambled treated rats. Note that scrambled peptide injection (10 µg/rat) served as negative control and did not induce any modifications in pro- and activated caspase-3 levels. The number of animals in each group is indicated within the columns.</p

Neurotrophic factor.

<p>Variations in BDNF contents within the frontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus, determined in rats 6 weeks after icv injection of scrambled Aβ_25–35 peptide (10 µg/rat; negative control) or oAβ_25–35 (10 µg/rat). The results are expressed as means ± SEM. **p<0.01 <i>vs</i>. control un-injected rats (control group: C), +p<0.05 and ++p<0.01 <i>vs.</i> scrambled treated rats. The number of animals in each group is indicated within the columns.</p

Astrocyte activation.

<p><b>A.</b> Variations in GFAP levels in the frontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus, determined in rats by western blot 6 weeks after icv injection of scrambled Aβ_25–35 peptide (10 µg/rat; negative control) or oAβ_25–35 (10 µg/rat). GFAP (50 kDa) variations were normalized with β-tubulin (β-tub, 55 kDa) variations and compared with untreated rats (control group: C). The results are expressed as means ± SEM. *p<0.05 and **p<0.01 <i>vs</i>. control group, +p<0.05 and ++p<0.01 <i>vs</i>. scrambled treated rats. The number of animals in each group is indicated within the columns. <b>B.</b> Effects of oAβ_25–35 (10 µg/rat) icv injection on astrocyte reactions using GFAP immunolabeling into the frontal and parietal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus (CA1, CA2 & CA3 regions) and hypothalamus (periventricular nucleus: PeVN & paraventricular nucleus: PVN) determined in control (C) untreated rats and 6 weeks after Aβ_25–35 injection. The scrambled peptide injection (10 µg/rat) served as negative control and did not induce any modifications in the GFAP signal. 3v: third ventricle. brackets: hippocampus layer of granular cells layer. Scale bar  = 60 µm.</p

Microglial activation.

<p><b>A.</b> Effects of oAβ_25–35 (10 µg/rat) icv injection on microglial reaction using Iba-1 immunolabeling in the amygdala, frontal and parietal cortex, hypothalamus (paraventricular nucleus: PVN) and hippocampus (CA1 & CA3 regions) determined in control untreated rats and 6 weeks after Aβ_25–35 scrambled peptide (10 µg/rat; negative control) or Aβ_25–35 injection. Activated microglia was visualized with Alexafluor 488-labeled specific antibody against Iba-1 (green immunolabeling), while the nucleus was counterstained with DAPI (blue labeling). 3v: third ventricle. Scale bar  = 100 µm. <b>B–E.</b> Variations in Iba1 levels in the frontal cortex (B), amygdala (C), hippocampus (D) and hypothalamus (E), determined in rats by western blot 6 weeks after icv injection of scrambled Aβ_25–35 peptide (10 µg/rat; negative control) or oAβ_25–35 (10 µg/rat). Iba1 (17 kDa) variations were normalized with β-tubulin (β-tub, 55 kDa) variations and compared with untreated rats (control group: C). The results are expressed as means ± SEM. *p<0.05 and **p<0.01 <i>vs</i>. control group, +p<0.05 and ++p<0.01 <i>vs</i>. scrambled treated rats. The number of animals in each group is indicated within the columns.</p

Brain localization of Aβ_25–35 and particle characterization of Aβ_25–35 solutions A–I.

<p>Localization within brain structures of oAβ_25–35-HLF, determined 6 weeks after its icv injection (10 µg/rat). oAβ_25–35-HLF was visualized in green, while the nucleus was counterstained with DAPI (blue labeling). Abbreviations: 3V: third ventricle; alv: alveus of the hippocampus; CA1: field CA1 of hippocampus; CA3: field CA3 of the hippocampus; cc: corpus callosum; D3V: dorsal third ventricle; ec: external capsule; fi: fimbria of the hippocampus; FrA: frontal association cortex; hf: hippocampal fissure; LV: lateral ventricle; MEE: median eminence, external part; MEI: median eminence, internal part; MHb: medial habenular nucleus; PVN: paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus; PVP: paraventricular thalamic nucleus, posterior part. Arrowhead: blood vessel. Scale bar  = 100 µm. <b>J.</b> Particle size distribution of the different fractions of Aβ_25–35 solution (1 µg/µl) was determined by PCS at 25°C. Samples were prepared as described in the <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0053117#s2" target="_blank">materials and methods</a> section. Black curve: Aβ_25–35 peptide dissolved in hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP); Red curve: solution of aggregated Aβ_25–35 peptide; Green curve: supernatant of aggregated Aβ_25–35 peptide centrifuged at 1 000 g; Purple curve: re-suspended pellet of aggregated Aβ_25–35 peptide obtained after centrifugation at 1 000 g; Blue curve: supernatant of aggregated Aβ_25–35 peptide centrifuged at 16 000 g. Data were analyzed using a Zetasizer software 6.01 and expressed as size frequency distribution (%) in function of particles size (nm).</p

APP processing.

<p>Effects of oAβ_25–35 (10 µg/rat) icv injection on APP processing in the frontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus, determined by western blot in untreated control rats and 6 weeks after Aβ_25–35 scrambled amyloid peptide (10 µg/rat; negative control) or oAβ_25–35 injection. APP (125 KDa) and C99 (13 KDa) variations were normalized with β-tubulin (β-tub, 55 KDa) variations and compared with non-injected rats (control group: C). The results are expressed as means ± SEM. *p<0.05 and **p<0.01 vs. control non-injected rats (control group: C) and +p<0.05 and ++p<0.01 vs. respective scrambled peptide-treated rats. The number of animals in groups is indicated within the columns.</p

Physiological and behavioral effects of oAβ_25–35.

<p><b>A.</b> Body weight variations determined 6 weeks after icv injection of scrambled Aβ_25–35 peptide (10 µg/rat; scrambled group) or oAβ_25–35 (10 µg/rat; Aβ_25–35 group). The results are expressed as means ± SEM (with n = 6 per group). *p<0.05 <i>vs</i>. control value and +p<0.05 vs. scrambled value). <b>B.</b> Variations in locomotor activity and body temperature determined 6 weeks after icv injection of scrambled Aβ_25–35 peptide (10 µg/rat; scrambled group; n  = 7) or oAβ_25–35 (10 µg/rat; oAβ_25–35 group; n = 7). Locomotor activity and body temperature were monitored using telemetric sensors. The thick black line indicates the nocturnal phase (7:00 PM to 7:00 AM). The results are means/hour obtained the 6^th week following the icv injection. <b>C.</b> Effects of oAβ_25–35 icv injection (10 µg/rat) on the ability of rats to perform a spatial short-term memory task (T-maze). Six weeks after icv injection, animals were allowed to explore the T-maze, with one short arm closed (B), for 10 min. After a 1 h time interval, the pattern of exploration of the whole maze was recorded for 2 min. The icv injection of the scrambled Aβ_25–35 peptide (10 µg/rat) served as negative control. The results are expressed as means ± SEM. **p<0.01 <i>vs.</i> control un-injected rats, +p<0.05 and ++p<0.01 <i>vs.</i> scrambled treated rats. The number of animals in each group is indicated within the columns. <b>D.</b> Effects of oAβ_25–35 icv injection (10 µg/rat) on rat behavior in a spatial long-term memory test (Water-maze). Six weeks after icv injection, animals were allowed to swim for 90 s to find the training platform and 60 s without the platform for retention. The icv injection of the scrambled Aβ_25–35 peptide (10 µg/rat) served as negative control. The results are expressed as means ± SEM. *p<0.05 and **p<0.01 vs. control un-injected rats, +p<0.05 and ++p<0.01 <i>vs.</i> scrambled treated rats. <b>E.</b> The probe test was performed 4 h after the last training trial in a single 60 s-duration swimming without platform. The presence in the training quadrant was analyzed over the chance level (25%): # p<0.05 and ## p<0.01. The number of animals in each group is indicated within the columns. <b>F.</b> Variations in plasmatic corticosterone (CORT) levels determined in rats 6 weeks after icv injection of Aβ_25–35 scrambled peptide (10 µg/rat; negative control) or oAβ_25–35 (10 µg/rat). The values are means ± SEM. **p<0.01 <i>vs</i>. control un-injected rats (control group: C) and ++p<0.01 <i>vs</i>. scrambled treated rats. The number of animals in each group is indicated within the columns.</p