Reduced excitatory neuron activity and interneuron-type-specific deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. These impairments correlate with early alterations in neuronal network activity in AD patients. Disruptions in the activity of individual neurons have been reported in mouse models of amyloidosis. However, the impact of amyloid pathology on the spontaneous activity of distinct neuronal types remains unexplored in vivo. Here we use in vivo calcium imaging with multiphoton microscopy to monitor and compare the activity of excitatory and two types of inhibitory interneurons in the cortices of APP/PS1 and control mice under isoflurane anesthesia. We also determine the relationship between amyloid accumulation and the deficits in spontaneous activity in APP/PS1 mice. We show that somatostatin-expressing (SOM) interneurons are hyperactive, while parvalbumin-expressing interneurons are hypoactive in APP/PS1 mice. Only SOM interneuron hyperactivity correlated with proximity to amyloid plaque. These inhibitory deficits were accompanied by decreased excitatory neuron activity in APP/PS1 mice. Our study identifies cell-specific neuronal firing deficits in APP/PS1 mice driven by amyloid pathology. These findings highlight the importance of addressing the complexity of neuron-specific deficits to ameliorate circuit dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease.