Research Models

Selected Results

1 Models

Name Other Names Strain Name Genetic Background Gene Mutation Modification Info Modification Disease Neuropathology Behavior/Cognition Other Phenotype Availability Primary Paper Visualization
Mouse Models (1)
rTg4510, rTg(tetO-TauP301L)4510, Tau P301L 129S6.Cg-Tg(Camk2a-tTA)1Mmay/JlwsJ; Fgf14Tg(tetO-MAPT*P301L)4510Kha/J. Formerly: 129S6.Cg-Tg(Camk2a-tTA)1Mmay/JlwsJ; FVB-Tg(tetO-MAPT*P301L)#Kha/JlwsJ Mixed: 129S6 (activator) X FVB (responder) MAPT MAPT P301L Bi-transgenic mice are made by crossing an activator line, CaMKIIα-tTA, with a responder line, Tg(tetO-tauP301L)4510. The CaMKIIα promoter drives the tetracycline transactivator (tTA) transgene preferentially in forebrain neurons. tTA drives expression of human tau (4R0N) with the P301L mutation. Transgene expression in bi-transgenic mice is constitutive until suppressed by doxycycline. MAPT: Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia Argyrophilic tangle-like inclusions in cortex by 4 months and in hippocampus by 5.5 months. Decreased CA1 neurons (~60 percent) by 5.5 months. Gross forebrain atrophy by 10 months. The number of CA1 neurons stabilized after a brief (six to eight week) suppression of transgenic tau. Spatial memory impairments by 2.5 to 4 months. No significant motor impairment up to 6 months of age. When the transgene was suppressed with dox at 2.5 months, spatial memory improved. Homozygous mice are not viable. It should be noted that disruption of an endogenous mouse gene, caused by random insertion of the MAPT transgene, significantly contributes to the neuropathological and neurodegenerative phenotypes observed in rTg4510 mice 4510 responder line: The Jackson Lab: Stock# 015815; Activator line: The Jackson Lab: Stock# 016198. Santacruz et al., 2005, Ramsden et al., 2005, Gamache et al., 2019 Yes

1 Visualizations

AD-related Research Models

Phenotypes Examined

  • Plaques
  • Tangles
  • Neuronal Loss
  • Gliosis
  • Synaptic Loss
  • Changes in LTP/LTD
  • Cognitive Impairment

When visualized, these phenotypes will distributed over a 18 month timeline demarcated at the following intervals: 3mo, 6mo, 9mo, 1yr, 15mo, 18mo+.

rTg(tauP301L)4510

Observed
  1. X
    Tangles at 17

    Pretangles as early as 2.5 months. Argyrophilic tangle-like inclusions in cortex by 4 months and in hippocampus by 5.5 months.

  2. X
    Neuronal Loss at 24

    Decreased (~60%) CA1 hippocampal neurons by 5.5 months with significant loss in brain weight. Progressive loss of neurons and brain weight in 7 and 8.5 month mice with ~23% of CA1 pyramidal cells remaining at 8.5 months. Gross atrophy of the forebrain by 10 months.

  3. X
    Synaptic Loss at 35

    Significant loss of dendritic spines at 8-9 months (~30% decrease in spine density in somatosensory cortex).

  4. X
    Cognitive Impairment at 11

    Retention of spatial memory (Morris Water Maze) became impaired from 2.5 to 4 months. No significant motor impairments up to 6 months. Spatial memory improved when transgene suppressed by dox.

Absent
  • Plaques at

    Absent.

No Data
  • Changes in LTP/LTD at

    LTP at the Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapse is normal at 1.3 months, but impaired at 4.5 months.

Genes Mutations Modification Disease Neuropathology Behavior/Cognition
MAPT MAPT P301L MAPT: Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia

Argyrophilic tangle-like inclusions in cortex by 4 months and in hippocampus by 5.5 months. Decreased CA1 neurons (~60 percent) by 5.5 months. Gross forebrain atrophy by 10 months. The number of CA1 neurons stabilized after a brief (six to eight week) suppression of transgenic tau.

Spatial memory impairments by 2.5 to 4 months. No significant motor impairment up to 6 months of age. When the transgene was suppressed with dox at 2.5 months, spatial memory improved.

expand