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Neurological Disease Animal Model Development Service
Introduction
Propel your CNS research forward! Is the preclinical side of your neuroscience drug discovery pipeline throwing complicated problems your way? Do you encounter intricate preclinical challenges in your neuro drug discovery pipeline? The devoted scientists at BioVenic help you to find the answers, with end-to-end service through abundant neurological disease animal model construction, validation and characterization technology platform. We offer you well-established, competent disease models as well as efficient non-GLP preclinical study design to gain comprehensive data for better and faster decision making of your innovative compounds.
BioVenic Neurological Disease Animal Model Development Services
Neurological Disease Animal Model Development
BioVenic provides expert development services for a wide spectrum of neurological disorders. In addition to the more frequently employed and well-validated AD, PD, and Stroke models, our unique expertise centers around providing tailor-made, complete model construction. Employing a broad array of well-validated methodologies, including genetically engineering (transgenic, knockout, and knock-in animals), targeted toxin or pharmacological induction (e.g. MPTP, 6-OHDA, Scopolamine), and meticulously placed surgical/physical lesions (e.g. MCAO, Contusion), we are proficient in tailoring the most scientifically appropriate model-rodent or non-rodent-that can be engineered, to your particular research question and mechanistic hypotheses.
Neurological Disease Animal Model Validation
It is important to validate thoroughly the model to ensure that the model accurately reflects and has been successful. BioVenic utilizes an extensive test battery to describe the induced pathological, functional and behavioral phenotypes. Common validation methods include:
- Behavioral Assays: Assessing cognitive function (Morris Water Maze, Y-Maze, Novel Object Recognition), motor coordination (Rotarod, Pole Test, Open Field), and affective behaviors (Forced Swim Test, Elevated Plus Maze).
- Histopathology and Immunochemistry: Staining for key pathological markers (Abeta, alpha-Synuclein, Tau), neuronal markers (TH, ChAT), and inflammatory indicators (GFAP).
- Biochemical and Molecular Analysis: Measuring neurotransmitter levels (e.g., DA, 5-HT) and quantifying gene/protein expression via ELISA, Western Blot, or qPCR.
Neurological Disease Animal Model Sample Collection
BioVenic offers specialized, high quality sample collection service that are designed specifically for your downstream analysis. Our experts collect the most important biospecimens accurately and without contamination, such as:
- CNS Tissues: Brain region-specific dissection for histology or homogenization.
- Body Fluids: Collection of blood, serum, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Experimental Studies in Neurological Disease Animal Models
BioVenic's platform supports a wide array of preclinical studies utilizing the developed models:
- Pharmacodynamic (PD) and Pharmacokinetic (PK) Studies: Evaluating compound exposure, mechanism of action, and efficacy.
- Electrophysiological Recording: Performing in vitro Patch-Clamp on brain slices or in vivo multi-channel recording on conscious animals to assess neuronal activity.
- Small Animal in vivo Imaging: Conducting advanced imaging (e.g., MRI, PET-CT) to visualize structural and functional changes.
- Toxicology and Safety Assessment (Non-GLP): Preliminary evaluation of compound safety profiles.
Explore BioVenic's investigative modalities:
- Animal Behavioral Analysis
- Animal Histopathology Service
- Preclinical Animal Pharmacodynamics (PD) Study
- Preclinical Animal Pharmacokinetics (PK) Study
- Animal Cell Biology Service
- Animal lmaging Service
BioVenic's animal neurological disease related services also include:
- Genome-edited Animal Model Development
- Chemically-induced Animal Model Development
- Surgically-induced Animal Model Development
Development Workflow for a Neurological Disease Animal Model
Neurological Disease Animal Model Research Areas Overview
Table. 1 Common Neurological Disease Animal Models and Research Areas
| Disease Model | Modeling Method | Animal | Research Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkinson's Disease (PD) | Peripheral or intracerebral injection of MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) | Rat/Mouse | Neurodegenerative disorders, Motor dysfunction |
| Striatum-Substantia Nigra injection of 6-OHDA (6-hydroxydopamine) | Rat/Mouse | Neurodegenerative disorders, Motor dysfunction | |
| Midbrain Substantia Nigra injection of viral vectors expressing alpha-Synuclein | Rat/Mouse | Mechanisms of sporadic/familial PD | |
| Alzheimer's Disease (AD) | Transgenic animals (e.g., expressing mutant PS-1, PS-2, APOE4, APP/PS1/Tau) | Rat/Mouse | Neurodegeneration, Cognitive impairment |
| Bilateral fornix and fimbria-fornix transection by stereotaxic surgery (or bilateral electrolytic lesion of basal forebrain nuclei) | Rat | Cognitive and memory deficits | |
| Intraperitoneal injection of Scopolamine | Rat/Mouse | Cholinergic system dysfunction, Acute memory impairment | |
| Intracerebral injection of A beta solution (Amyloid-beta) or Okadaic Acid | Rat/Mouse | Amyloid toxicity, Tau pathology | |
| Intracerebral injection of Ibotenic acid/Immunotoxin (to eliminate basal forebrain cholinergic neurons) | Rat | Cholinergic neuronal damage | |
| D-galactose (D-gal)-induced subacute senescence; Aluminium trichloride hexahydrate gavage | Rat/Mouse | Senescence and dementia | |
| Cerebral Ischemia/Stroke | MCAO (Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion) thread-occlusion method (focal cerebral ischemia) | Rat/Macaque | Focal ischemia, Ischemia-reperfusion injury |
| Ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries (CCA) followed by reperfusion (global cerebral ischemia) | Gerbil/Rat | Global ischemia, Neuroprotection | |
| Ferric chloride-induced middle artery thrombosis; CCA injection of compound thrombogenic agents | Rat | Thrombosis models | |
| Autologous blood injection (stereotaxic or subarachnoid space); Electrocautery/Paraffin oil | Rat/Mouse | Intracerebral hemorrhage, Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Traumatic hemorrhage | |
| Depression/Anxiety | Behavioral despair models (Forced Swim Test, Tail Suspension Test) | Rat/Mouse | Depressive behavior, Antidepressant screening |
| Chronic Mild Stress (CUMS) model (e.g., foot shock, cold water, reversed light/dark cycle) | Rat/Mouse | Chronic stress, Pathogenesis of depression | |
| Drug-induced models (e.g., DL-5-Hydroxytryptophan, Reserpine, Yohimbine, Apomorphine, Chlorphenazine) | Mouse/Rat | Monoaminergic system dysfunction, Drug screening | |
| Social defeat/stress-induced models | Rat | Anxiety pathogenesis | |
| Epilepsy | Injection of Kainic Acid (KA) (systemic or intracerebral administration) | Rat/Mouse | Temporal lobe epilepsy, Neuronal excitability |
| Injection of Lithium-Pilocarpine | Rat/Mouse | Spontaneous recurrent seizures | |
| Kindling model (Intracerebral injection of KA into amygdala) | Rat/Mouse | Seizure focus formation and development | |
| Subcutaneous injection of Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) (Acute seizure model) | Rat/Mouse | Acute convulsion, Anticonvulsant screening | |
| Demyelinating Disease | Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) model (induced by MOG, MBP, PLP, etc.) | Rat/Mouse | Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Autoimmune inflammation |
| Pain Disorders | Trauma (Weight drop/Contusion, Photochemical spinal cord injury, Partial sciatic nerve ligation) | Rat/Mouse | Spinal cord injury, Neuropathic pain |
| Herpes Zoster neural model; Diabetic Neuropathic Pain; Neuroma model | Rat/Mouse | Neuropathic pain | |
| Learning and Memory Deficit | Behavioral methods (Models for acquisition/consolidation/retrieval deficits, Light/Dark Box) | Mouse/Rat | Cognitive function, Drug intervention |
| Schizophrenia | Drug-induced models (e.g., MIA-801, MK801, Ketamine) | Rat/Mouse | Psychotic symptoms, Neurotransmitter abnormality |
| Transgenic/Knockout animals (e.g., COMT, neulegulin1 genes, DISC1 gene knockout) | Rat/Mouse | Genetic factors, Neurodevelopmental models | |
| Other Genetic Diseases | Gene knockout (Ube3a - Angelman Syndrome, Abhd12 - PHARC Syndrome) | Mouse | Mechanisms of rare neurological diseases |
| Transgenic animals (HTT (CAG repeats) - Huntington's Disease, SOD1 - ALS) | Mouse | Mechanisms of hereditary diseases |
Advantages of BioVenic Neurological Disease Animal Model Development Service
Diverse Existing Neurological Models
BioVenic uses many different well-established models including various combination of genetic, surgical, pharmacological and behavioral induction methods. Along with a well-chosen species you have the highest biological relevance.
Project Customization and Scientific Partnership
BioVenic treats every project as a unique scientific endeavor. We then either select the best available animal model or design an appropriate animal model for your targets, mechanistic aspects and project objectives and match it with an appropriate and comprehensive experimental design.
Robust Characterization and Detection Platform
BioVenic doesn't just build models; we thoroughly validate them. Our platform boasts comprehensive biochemical, pathological (IHC, mIF), behavioral, and advanced electrophysiological detection capabilities, providing you with powerful validation data and comprehensive sample analysis.
Case Study: High-Aggression AD Transgenic Platform for Accelerated Drug Screening
Our facility offers a high-aggression Alzheimer's Disease (AD) transgenic mouse model, specifically optimized for high-efficiency preclinical drug evaluation. Our integrated evaluation suite includes in vivo PET/MRI to monitor glucose hypometabolism, quantitative histopathology for Abeta plaques, and multi-marker neuroinflammation profiling (Iba1/GFAP). To ensure clinical translation, we provide high-throughput RNA-seq transcriptomics, delivering robust molecular correlation between our transgenic platform and human AD immune pathways. Coupled with comprehensive behavioral phenotyping to map cognitive and motor deficits, our services are suitable for validating the candidates.
Fig. 1 Metabolic Health Changed in AD Mice Model1
FAQs
Q: Which species of animals do you usually use for neurological disease models?
A: Mice and rats (both different genetic strains) are our primary species for use in neurological disease modeling due to the extensive range of tools that are available on their physiology and genetics. Additionally, other species will be utilized where necessary, as dictated by the nature of the disease, such as gerbils (used in some models of ischemia) and guinea pigs (used for our EAE models).
Q: Do you make a model of my gene of interest in a rare genetic neurological disease?
A: We are specifically specialized in the construction of custom-made transgenic and/ gene knock-in/ knock-out mouse and rat models for a specific rare gene of interest.
Q: What type of data is provided in the final report?
A: The final report consists of scientific methods used, raw and analyzed data including figures, statistical analysis and interpretation. We can provide data in an audit-ready format.
Contact Us
BioVenic is your CRO partner designed to support your translation from discovery to clinic through a provision of high-fidelity neurological animal models and reliable preclinical data. We have the expertise to establish the model, validate it and execute intricate experiments to provide a firm foundation for your research. Contact us today to discuss your specific model development needs and receive a tailored quote to accelerate your valuable preclinical studies.
Reference
- Oblak, Adrian L et al. "Comprehensive Evaluation of the 5XFAD Mouse Model for Preclinical Testing Applications: A MODEL-AD Study." Frontiers in aging neuroscience vol. 13 713726. 23 Jul. 2021, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.713726. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0. The original title was changed to "Metabolic Health Changed in 5XFAD Mice Model".