Looking for something to read for the holidays? In 2024, Scantox Neuro developed various new in vitro and in vivo models and methods, and existing ones were constantly improved. Our currently ongoing and planned R&D projects are now presented in the new R&D corner. The results of Scantox Neuro’s steady R&D efforts lead to 3 … Read more
Accumulation of phosphorylated tau (ptau) protein is a characteristic of tauopathies and many other neurodegenerative diseases. Hyperphosphorylated tau was shown to dissociate from microtubuli, resulting in the breakdown of the axonal flow, and thus impairing neuronal viability and function. Since tau presents a promising drug target, an inducible model of tau phosphorylation provides a quick … Read more
In recent years, gene and cell therapies have revolutionized treatment options for previously incurable diseases. Their thorough testing in preclinical studies using cells, tissues and animals is crucial before they reach the clinics to assess therapeutic effects and potential adverse side effects. Preclinical studies are key to demonstrating efficacy, ensuring successful translation to patients and … Read more
Longitudinal, and thus repeated sampling of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a single animal, combined with repeated measurements of biomarkers, offers a highly translational approach for analyzing progressive pathological changes while minimizing the number of needed animals. The CSF composition reflects biological changes inside the central nervous system and can thus be used to observe pathological … Read more
Aging is a complex biological process characterized by a gradual decline in physiological functions and an increased susceptibility to diseases. Cellular senescence is a fundamental mechanism underlying aging, where cells irreversibly stop dividing in response to stress or damage, contributing to tissue dysfunction over time. While senescence has a protective role against tumorigenesis by preventing … Read more
After evaluating main phenotypic traits of Fmr1-KO mice showing increased activity, hyperactivity, anxiety, and repetitive behavior (Behavior Newsletter) we now evaluated brain pathological hallmarks of young Fmr1-KO mice. In Fmr1-KO mice, the Fmr1 gene on exon 5 is replaced by more than 200 CGG repeats with a neomycin resistance cassette. Animals thus present a valuable … Read more
In 2006, aggregates and mislocalization of the RNA binding protein TDP-43 were discovered in human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) brain samples by Neumann and colleagues. Since then, in vitro and in vivo overexpression of TDP-43 were shown to cause ALS pathology and thus providing a suitable model to study underlying ALS mechanisms. However, transgenic ALS … Read more
Neuroinflammation, a complex immune response within the central nervous system, stands as both a shield and a sword in neurological health. It involves the activation of immune cells like microglia and astrocytes, the release of signaling molecules, and phagocytosis of pathogens. While it serves as a frontline defense against threats, dysregulation can fuel the progression … Read more
Injection of two different concentrations of rotenone directly into the right striatum of wild-type mice causes a significant increase of contralateral slips in the beam walk test when compared to the ipsilateral side of the same animals as well as the contralateral side of DMSO-injected littermates (Figure 1A). This phenotype is measurable for at least … Read more
B6.SOD1G93A transgenic mice, bred on a congenic C57BL/6 background, offer a compelling alternative to the commonly used SOD1(*G93A)1Gur mice. They exhibit a slightly slower progression of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-specific phenotype compared to the original strain, which is conventionally bred on a mixed C57BL/6xSJL background. The slower disease course offers an extended window for … Read more
In a previous newsletter we already introduced the AAV2 hA53T-α-syn mouse model to present increased hA53T-α-syn levels in the unilaterally virus-injected substantia nigra and the caudate putamen of the same hemisphere compared to the contralateral hemisphere injected with control vector. Furthermore, we could show decreased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels and increased Iba1 levels in the … Read more
We just established different patient-derived fibroblasts as models for various lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), offering a valuable tool for drug screening. LSDs are a group of rare genetic disorders, characterized by deficiencies in specific enzymes that usually facilitate the lysosomal degradation process, leading to the accumulation of undegraded substances within the lysosome. These diseases can … Read more