Soluble oligomers and fibrillar species of amyloid β-peptide differentially affect cognitive functions and hippocampal inflammatory response.

Two major active species of β-amyloid protein (Aβ), fibrillar Aβ1-42 (FAβ) and soluble Aβ1-42 oligomers (AβO), are known to play important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. However, the differences between them are largely unknown. In this study, we explored the effects of FAβ and AβO on cognitive functions and hippocampal inflammatory response through a 30-days infusion of FAβ or AβO (144pmol/d) into the left lateral ventricles of the rat brain.