β‐Amyloid Precursor Protein Isoforms in Various Rat Brain Regions and During Brain Development

Abstract
To address the question of the possible functions of different Alzheimer's disease β-amyloid precursor protein (β-APP) isoforms in the brain, we studied their expression at different times during postnatal rat brain development and in various regions of the adult rat brain. Polyclonal antibodies directed to two peptide antigens were used. The majority of all β-APP forms was found to be soluble as revealed by western blot analysis. The highest level of most β-APP forms was reached in the second postnatal week, which is the time of brain maturation and completion of synaptic connections. Strikingly high concentrations of the Kunitz protease inhibitor-containing β-APP were present in the adult olfactory bulb, where continuous synaptogenesis occurs in the adult animal. These findings support the idea of an involvement of β-APPs in the processes of cell differentiation and, probably, in the establishment of synaptic contacts.

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