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Endogenous amyloid-β is necessary for hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory
Puzzo D, Privitera L, Fa' M, Staniszewski A, Hashimoto G, Aziz F, Sakurai M, Ribe EM et al.. Annals of neurology, 2011-04-06
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Objective The goal of this study was to investigate the role of endogenous amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in healthy brain. Methods Long-term potentiation (LTP), a type of synaptic plasticity that is thought to be associated with learning and memory, was examined through extracellular field recordings from the CA1 region of hippocampal slices, whereas behavioral techniques were used to assess contextual fear memory and reference memory. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression was reduced through small interfering RNA (siRNA) technique.
Key findings
- Methods Long-term potentiation (LTP), a type of synaptic plasticity that is thought to be associated with learning and memory, was examined through extracellular field recordings from the CA1 region of hippocampal slices, whereas behavioral techniques were used to assess contextual fear memory and reference memory.
- Amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression was reduced through small interfering RNA (siRNA) technique.
- Results We found that both antirodent Aβ antibody and siRNA against murine APP reduced LTP as well as contextual fear memory and reference memory.
- These effects were rescued by the addition of human Aβ₄₂, suggesting that endogenously produced Aβ is needed for normal LTP and memory.
Why it matters
Reducing endogenous amyloid-beta in mouse hippocampal slices and in mice impaired synaptic plasticity and memory, suggesting this peptide has a normal role in healthy brain function. This is animal and laboratory research, so it does not directly show how to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease in people.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Annals of neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Annals of Neurology: journal h-index 437 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2011 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 320 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 18.8 citations a year over 17 year(s) since 2011 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 35 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Ottavio Arancio: h-index 85 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Columbia University: institution h-index 1,824 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 21472769) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Puzzo, D., Privitera, L., Fa', M., Staniszewski, A., Hashimoto, G., Aziz, F., et al. (2011). Endogenous amyloid-β is necessary for hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory. Annals of neurology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.22313
Vancouver
Puzzo D, Privitera L, Fa' M, Staniszewski A, Hashimoto G, Aziz F, et al. Endogenous amyloid-β is necessary for hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory. Annals of neurology. 2011. doi:10.1002/ana.22313. PMID: 21472769.
BibTeX
@article{puzzo2011-21472769,
author = {Puzzo, D. and Privitera, L. and Fa', M. and Staniszewski, A. and Hashimoto, G. and Aziz, F. and Sakurai, M. and Ribe, E. M. and others},
title = {{Endogenous amyloid-β is necessary for hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory}},
journal = {Annals of neurology},
year = {2011},
doi = {10.1002/ana.22313},
pmid = {21472769},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.22313}
}
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