Figure 4.

Aβ oligomers modify mitochondrial dynamics in hippocampal neurons, Wnt-5a ligand protects and stabilizes mitochondrial membrane potential from such effects. 15 day in vitro hippocampal neuron cultures were labeled with Mitotracker orange and treated with various concentrations of Aβ oligomers. (A) Photographs show mitochondria stained with Mitotracker in control and treated neurons, a, Control neurons; a‘, magnification of mitochondria; b, treated with Aβ oligomers; b', magnification of mitochondria treated with Aβ oligomers, c, treated with Wnt-5a, c', magnification of mitochondria treated with Wnt-5; d, treated with 5 μM Thapsigargin. (B) Quantitation of mitochondrial dynamics under different conditions; a, Graph shows mitochondria/neuron ratio in a time course experiment under various concentrations of Aβ oligomers; b, Neurons pretreated with Wnt-5a or Wnt-3a and then challenged with Aβ oligomers; c, Length of mitochondria under inhibitors of RyR and SERCA. Primary cultures of rat embryo hippocampal neurons (15 DIV) were treated at 37°C. bar (a,b,c,d), 10 μm; bar (a',b',c'), 2 μm. Results are the mean ± SEM. n = 4–6 experiments, Student's t-test, ^*p < 0.05.