Figure 1. Overexpression of Lf in astrocytes reduces Aβ burden and improves cognitive ability in APP/PS1 mice. The male mice at 10-months-old were submitted to MWM tests with 2 days of visible platform training, and 5 days of hidden platform tasting, as well as a probe trial after 24 h of the last hidden platform test. The numbers of mice used in this study as follow: WT = 8, Astro-Lf = 8, APP/PS1 = 8, APP/PS1/Lf = 8. (A-B) The escape latencies and path lengths in the visible platform tests. (C-D) The escape latencies and path lengths at day 5 in the hidden platform tests were shortened in the WT mice and APP/PS1/Lf mice, compared to those in APP/PS1 mice. * showing WTvs APP/PS1, & showing APP/PS1 vs APP/PS1/Lf; Two-way ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni’s post hoc test. (E) Graphs showing representative paths at day 5 in the hidden platform tests. (F) In the probe trials, the WT mice and APP/PS1/Lf mice exhibited more crossing times than APP/PS1 mice. Two-way ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni’s post hoc test. (G) Immunostaining showing the Aβ plaques in the mouse brains, the magnified images of hippocampus and cortexes are respectively presented in G1, G2 and G3, G4. n = 5. (H-I) Overexpression of Lf in astrocytes decreased both the numbers and areas of Aβ plaque in APP/PS1 mice. n = 4; Student’s t -test. (J) The expression levels of Aβ were reduced in APP/PS1/Lf mice compared to the APP/PS1 mice. n = 6; Two-way ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni’s post hoc test.&P < 0.05,&&P < 0.01; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.