Decreased Numeric Density of Succinic Dehydrogenase-Positive Mitochondria in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons of 3xTg-AD Mice

Alzheimer disease (AD) is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. In this study, we investigated succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in mitochondria of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons obtained from 10-month-old 3xTg-AD mice, an animal model of AD, as well as from age-matched control mice PS1-KI. In SDH-positive mitochondria, we measured numeric density (Nv, number of mitochondria/mu m(3) of cytoplasm), average organelle volume (V), volume density (Vv, volume fraction of mitochondria/mu m(3) of cytoplasm), average length (Fmax), and the ratio (R) between the total area of the cytochemical precipitate due to SDH activity and the total mitochondrial area. Our results indicate that 3xTg-AD mitochondria show a significant decrease of Nv, increase in V and Fmax, as well as a trend toward a reduction of R, whereas Vv is unchanged. Our findings further support the idea that mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in AD and are in line with studies indicating that both amyloid precursor protein (APP) and amyloid-beta (A beta) localize to mitochondria.