Vaccination with peptide 173-193 of acetylcholine receptor α7-subunit prevents memory loss in olfactory bulbectomized mice.

We studied the ability of four non-conjugated alpha7-subunit fragments of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor to induce an immune response and to protect memory in olfactory bulbectomized mice which demonstrate abnormalities similar to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Vaccination only with the alpha7-subunit fragment 173-193 was shown to rescue spatial memory, to restore the level of alpha7 acetylcholine receptors in the cortex, and to prevent an increase in the amyloid-beta (Abeta) level in brain tissue in these animals. Antibodies against the peptide 173-193 were revealed in blood serum and cerebrospinal liquid in the bulbectomized mice.