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Microglial activation in the right amygdala-entorhinal-hippocampal complex is associated with preserved spatial learning in AppNL-G-F mice
Biechele G, Wind K, Blume T, Sacher C, Beyer L, Eckenweber F, Franzmeier N, Ewers M et al.. NeuroImage, 2020-12-29
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Results Voxel-wise analyses in App NL-G-F mice revealed that higher TSPO-PET signal in the amygdala, entorhinal and piriform cortices, the hippocampus and the hypothalamus correlated with spatial learning performance. Region-based analysis showed significant correlations between TSPO expression in the right entorhinal/piriform cortex and the right amygdala and spatial learning performance, whereas there were no such correlations in the left hemisphere. Region-based results for amyloid-PET showed no significant associations with spatial learning. Conclusion Elevated microglial activation in the right amygdala-entorhinal-hippocampal complex of App NL-G-F mice is associated with better spatial learning. Our findings support a protective role of microglia on cognitive function when they highly express TSPO in specific brain regions involved in spatial memory.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Biechele, G., Wind, K., Blume, T., Sacher, C., Beyer, L., Eckenweber, F., et al. (2021). Microglial activation in the right amygdala-entorhinal-hippocampal complex is associated with preserved spatial learning in AppNL-G-F mice. NeuroImage. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117707
Vancouver
Biechele G, Wind K, Blume T, Sacher C, Beyer L, Eckenweber F, et al. Microglial activation in the right amygdala-entorhinal-hippocampal complex is associated with preserved spatial learning in AppNL-G-F mice. NeuroImage. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117707. PMID: 33385560.
BibTeX
@article{biechele2021-33385560,
author = {Biechele, G. and Wind, K. and Blume, T. and Sacher, C. and Beyer, L. and Eckenweber, F. and Franzmeier, N. and Ewers, M. and others},
title = {{Microglial activation in the right amygdala-entorhinal-hippocampal complex is associated with preserved spatial learning in AppNL-G-F mice}},
journal = {NeuroImage},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117707},
pmid = {33385560},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117707}
}
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.
Key findings
- Results Voxel-wise analyses in App NL-G-F mice revealed that higher TSPO-PET signal in the amygdala, entorhinal and piriform cortices, the hippocampus and the hypothalamus correlated with spatial learning performance.
- Region-based analysis showed significant correlations between TSPO expression in the right entorhinal/piriform cortex and the right amygdala and spatial learning performance, whereas there were no such correlations in the left hemisphere.
- Region-based results for amyloid-PET showed no significant associations with spatial learning.
- Conclusion Elevated microglial activation in the right amygdala-entorhinal-hippocampal complex of App NL-G-F mice is associated with better spatial learning.
- Our findings support a protective role of microglia on cognitive function when they highly express TSPO in specific brain regions involved in spatial memory.
Why it matters
In a mouse model, higher microglial activation in certain right-brain regions was linked to better spatial learning, while amyloid PET showed no such link. This is animal research and does not show any treatment, cure, or prevention for people.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (NeuroImage) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | NeuroImage: journal h-index 523 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| 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 | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 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 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “mice”) — scores zero |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 23 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.3 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Matthias Brendel: h-index 56 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München: institution h-index 1,224 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 11 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33385560) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117707
- PubMed: 33385560
- Original source →
- Free full text: sciencedirect.com →
Full text: free to read — Unpaywall lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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