Research Models

Commonly Used Mouse Models

Name Genes Mutations Modification Disease Neuropathology Behavior/Cognition Visualization Promoter/Regulatory Elements Genetic Background Strain Name Other Phenotypes Availability Primary Paper
APP, NOS2 APP K670_M671delinsNL (Swedish), APP E693Q (Dutch), APP D694N (Iowa) APP: Transgenic; NOS2: Knock-Out Alzheimer's Disease Plaques especially in the thalamus and subiculum. Aggregated, hyperphosphorylated tau tangles. Neuronal loss especially of NPY neurons in the hippocampus and subiculum. More severe pathology than Tg-SwDI alone. Severe learning and memory deficits. Impaired spatial memory compared to Tg-SwDI as measured by the radial arm maze and the Barnes maze at 52-56 weeks. Yes C57BL/6J; C57BL/6N B6.Cg-Nos2tm1Lau Tg(Thy1-APPSwDutIowa)BWevn/Mmjax Decreased neuropeptide Y staining throughout the hippocampus, particularly in the CA3 region and subiculum. The Jackson Lab; available through the JAX MMRRC Stock# 034849; Cryopreserved. Charles River: CVN mouse Colton et al., 2008, Wilcock et al., 2008
APP APP K670_M671delinsNL (Swedish) APP: Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease By 14-16 months, homozygotes have diffuse and compact Aβ deposits in the frontal cortex, by 18-20 months plaques throughout the cortex and olfactory bulb with occasional deposits in the corpus callosum and hippocampus. No tangles, but some changes in phosphorylated tau. Reactive astrocytes and microglia by 14-16 months. Unknown. Yes (129X1/SvJ x 129S1/Sv)F1-Kitl<+> B6.129-Tg(APPSw)40Btla/Mmjax Increased mortality in young homozygous animals, especially females. At 3-4 months mice maintained on the C57BL/6J background exhibit spontaneous seizure-like activity as measured by EEG and are more susceptible to kainic acid-induced seizures. The Jackson Lab; available through the JAX MMRRC Stock# 034831; Cryopreserved Lamb et al., 1997
APP APP V717I (London) APP: Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease, Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Plaques start in the subiculum, spreading to the frontal cortex as dense and diffuse aggregates. Prominent amyloid deposits in brain vessels after 15 months. Microbleeds. Amyloid-associated inflammation. CSF Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio decreases from 15 months. Dystrophic neurites containing hyperphosphorylated tau, but no tangle pathology. From the age of 6 months, spatial and non-spatial orientation and memory deficits by Morris water maze. Impaired associative learning. Increased agitation/anxiety from 8 weeks. Reduced ambulation, especially with age. Hyperactivity and aggression. Yes Originally generated on FVB/N background; available at reMYND as C57BL/6xFVB/N Tg(Thy1-APPLon)2Vln/0 Increased mortality (72% by day 180). Increased incidence of seizures. Available through the KU Leuven Research and Development Office; the CRO reMYND offers research services with this line. Moechars et al., 1999
MAPT MAPT P301S MAPT: Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, Other Tauopathy Age-dependent hyperphosphorylation of tau and conformational changes leading to neurofibrillary tanglelike pathology in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, brain stem, and spinal cord. Neurodegeneration, especially in the spinal cord, accompanied by astrocytosis. Early motor impairment, including abnormal clasping and rotarod deficit at 4 months, with nearly complete deficit at 5 months. Deficits progress to severe paraparesis. Disinhibition and hyperactivity at 2 to 3 months. Yes CBAxC57BL/6 Thy1-hTau.P301S (CBA.C57BL/6) Muscle weakness, tremor. Frequent eye inflammation. Available for academic use from Michel Goedert and for commercial use from LifeArc. The CRO reMYND offers research services with this line. Allen et al., 2002
APP, PSEN1 APP K670_M671delinsNL (Swedish), PSEN1 M146L (A>C) APP: Transgenic; PSEN1: Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease Aβ accumulates in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus starting ~6 months and increasing with age. Other regions affected later. Deposition occurs in white matter,  cerebrovasculature, and grey matter in the form of diffuse and fibrillar plaques. Fibrillar deposits are associated with dystrophic neurites and GFAP-positive astrocytes at ~ 6 months with later microglial activation. Progressive impairment between 5–7 and 15–17 months in some tests of cognitive performance, but not others. No change in anxiety levels. Yes B6/D2/Swe/SJL mixed background Selective increase in brain Aβ42(43) in the double transgenics (41% increase at 6 weeks) compared to Tg2576 single transgenic, which had unchanged Aβ40 and Aβ42(43) at this age. Tg2576: Taconic (Stock #001349) and Charles River; PS1(M146L): University of South Florida Technology Transfer Office. The CRO PsychoGenics offers research services with Tg2576 and the double transgenic line. Holcomb et al., 1998
APP APP K670_M671delinsNL (Swedish), APP V717I (London) APP: Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease Age-associated pathology in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus starting at 8 and 10½-12½ months of age, respectively. Gliosis and hyperphosphorylated tau in the vicinity of dense-core plaques. Fibrillar oligomeric species, e.g., Aβ dimers. No transgene-related deficits seen in Morris water maze (4, 12, 21, 24, months of age) or fixed consecutive-number (23 months of age) tests. Yes 129S6FVB F1 Reduced body weight at 24-27 months relative to non-Tg littermates and those expressing only tTA. Available through Karen Ashe Liu et al., 2015
APP, PSEN1 APP K670_M671delinsNL (Swedish), PSEN1 M146V APP: Transgenic; PSEN1: Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease Aβ deposits beginning at 3 months of age, with fibrillar plaques by 6 months in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Some vascular amyloid. Plaques surrounded by dystrophic neurites and reactive glia. No tangles or neuronal loss. Female mice have more rapid and severe amyloid pathology. Age-dependent impairment in object recognition memory starting around 6 months of age.  Yes TAS10 transgene originally injected into C57BL/6 x C3H oocytes, with some backcrossing to C57BL/6. TPM generated on pure C57BL/6 background. Unknown Howlett et al., 2004
MAPT MAPT P301L MAPT: Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia Pathologic hyperphosphorylation and conformational change of parenchymal tau in brain tissues starting at 7 months. Tangle-like pathology is mainly observed in the brain stem and spinal cord, and to a lesser extent in the midbrain and cerebral cortex. Age-dependent increase in total tau in CSF. Age-associated deficits in a passive avoidance task (starting at 5 months) and a novel object recognition task (starting at 9 months). At a young age (~2 months) outperforms wild-type littermates in object recognition memory. Progressive motor impairment and reduced activity, accompanied by increased clasping of hind and then forelimbs around seven months. Yes FVB/N Thy1-hTau.P301L Premature death around 8-12 months, preceded by weight loss, hyperkyphosis, reduced activity, and upper airway dysfunction. The CRO reMYND offers research services with this line.  Terwel et al., 2005
APP, MAPT APP K670_M671delinsNL (Swedish), MAPT P301L APP; MAPT: Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease Gradual appearance of plaques; by 9 months plaques are scattered throughout the cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala similar to Tg2576. Tau pathology more extensive than JNPL3. Astrocytosis and microgliosis. Motor disturbances similar to JNPL3, with identical range in age of onset. Reduced vocalization and decreased grooming. Yes C57BL/6, DBA/2, SJL, SW Mixed Background Tg(APPSWE)2576Kha; Tg(Prnp-MAPT*P301L)JNPL3Hlmc Progressive hindlimb weakness. Hunched posture. Eye irritations. Some mice have the Pde6brd1 retinal degeneration mutation which can cause light sensitivity and/or blindness and may affect behavioral testing. Taconic: Stock# 2469 Lewis et al., 2001