Adaptation of the circular platform spatial memory task for mice: use in detecting cognitive impairment in the APP(SW) transgenic mouse model for Alzheimer's disease

A methodology is described for use of a 16-hole circular platform task to t est spatial memory in mice. Both bright light and a fan were used to motiva te mice to escape the platform surface through a single hole containing an attached escape box. For each daily trial, three correlated measures (escap e latency, number of errors, and error rating) comprehensively evaluated co gnitive performance. In an initial study, the 'spatial' nature of this task was demonstrated by the much poorer performance of non-transgenic mice whe n visual cues are removed. Behavioral sensitivity of the circular platform task was then shown through its ability to discern cognitive impairment in 7-month-old transgenic mice, carrying the mutant APP(SW) gene for early-ons et Alzheimer's disease in humans, from non-transgenic litter-mates. Since t here are currently only a few tasks available to definitively test cognitiv e performance in mice, the circular platform task offers a versatile, multi ple-measure option with numerous advantages. Particularly in view of the in creasing number of genetically manipulated mouse models being produced, the circular platform task should be most useful in providing a sensitive eval uation of cognition in mice. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.