Abstract:Objective: To investigate the dynamic alteration of PTEN（Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Deleted on Chromosome 10）and phospho-PTEN levels at different stages of mimic Alzheimer’s disease（AD）mice induced by AlCl3.Methods：AD-like mouse was made by intracere-broventricular injection（icv）of 2 μL of 0.5% AlCl₃dissolved in artificial cerebrospinal fluid, once a day, consecutively for 5 d. Passive avoidance response test was used at d 2 and d 7, and Morris water maze test at d 23 to d 30 after the last icv injection to detect the learning and memory capabilities of mice. Western Blotting was used to detect the protein levels of PTEN and phospho-PTEN in the hippocampus of mice.Results: The results of step through passive avoidance response showed a significant retardation of the model mice from d 2 to d 7 after the last icv injection compared with that of the control group; from d 23 to d 30 after the last icv injection, Morris water maze（MWM） performance displayed a significant impairment in learning and memory ability of model mice. No significant differences on protein levels of PTEN and phospho-PTEN in the hippocampus were found between the model mice and control mice at the d 2 and d 7 time-points after the last icv injection. At the d 30 time-point after the last icv injection, the protein level of phospho-PTEN-Ser³⁸⁰of the model mice was significantly lower than that of the control group, but no significant difference about PTEN protein level.Conclusion：The phospho-PTEN protein level of hippocampus in the late development stage of mimic AD mice induced by aluminum toxicity is decreased significantly.

Key words:Alzheimer&,rsquo,s disease,PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Deleted on Chromosome 10) phospho-PTEN,hippocampus,mice,learning and memory