Fig. 1

Aβ plaque load increases during pregnancy from gestation day 5 to gestation day 18 in 5xFAD female mice. a Schematic overview of the experimental setup. Twelve weeks old 5xFAD female mice were breed and either sacrificed at gestation day 5 (G5), G10 or G18. b Fluorescence microscopy of Aβ (red) and DAPI (blue). Shown are representative images of hippocampi from female 5xFAD mice not pregnant or pregnant at G5. c Quantification of Aβ plaque load (left) and compact Aβ plaque load (right) of not pregnant and pregnant 5xFAD mice at G5 showed no differences between the groups. d Fluorescence microscopy of Aβ (red) and DAPI (blue). Shown are representative images of hippocampi from female 5xFAD mice not pregnant or pregnant at G10. e Aβ plaque load (left) is significantly increased in pregnant 5xFAD female mice compared to not pregnant mice at G10. Mann-Whitney test, *P = 0.03. f Fluorescence microscopy of Aβ (red) and DAPI (blue). Shown are representative images of hippocampi from female 5xFAD mice not pregnant or pregnant at G18. g The number of Aβ plaques exhibited significant increase in pregnant 5xFAD mice compared to not pregnant 5xFAD mice at G18. Mann-Whitney test, *P = 0.03. h Sandwich immunoassay for Aβ40 soluble and insoluble fractions of hippocampal brain extracts from non-pregnant and pregnant female 5xFAD mice at G18 (n = 3). i Sandwich immunoassay for Aβ42 soluble and insoluble fractions of hippocampal brain extracts from non-pregnant and pregnant female 5xFAD mice at G18 (n = 3). Data are presented as mean ± S.D. Each symbol represents data from one mouse, with four to five mice per group. Scale bar represents 500 μm. G = gestation day