FIND YOUR MODEL
NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS
SIA offers a variety of models for neurodegenerative disorders. Disease scoring and computerized behavioral testing are used to asses disease severity and drug efficacy.
Samples can be isolated for further analyses including histology, serum and tissue biomarker analyses, gene expression and more. Please refer to our in-vitro services section for more information on ex-vivo services offered by SIA.
AMEIOTHROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS ALS
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease resulting in generalized muscle weakness and atrophy, and, usually, death within a few years. A transgenic mouse model expressing a mutant form of human SOD-1 (superoxide dismutase 1) exhibit a phenotype similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in humans, an age-related rapidly progressive decline of motor functions accompanied by degenerative changes of motor neurons within the spinal cord, brain stem and neocortex. We have extensive experience in the use of this transgenic mouse model to test possible new treatments for ALS. This transgenic mouse strain also serves as a general model of neurodegenerative diseases and neurodegenerative treatments. Endpoints are animal survival, behavior, and histology.
PARKINSON’S DISEASE
For the induction of neurodegenerative motor symptoms of Parkinson disease in rodents, chemicals that destruct the dopaminergic nigro-striatal pathway are used. These include the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to establish a rat model and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to establish a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease.