[Animal Modeling - Efficacy Evaluation] - Transgenic Animal Models

  (1) The replication method mainly uses transgenic technology to establish the model.

  (2) The successful PD genetic models that have been prepared currently mainly include α - synuclein transgenic mice and transgenic fruit flies. Transgenic mice with high expression of human alpha synuclein exhibit partial features of Parkinson's disease, such as loss of striatal DA nerve endings, formation of alpha synuclein and ubiquitin positive inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm, and motor dysfunction. These transgenic mouse inclusion bodies differ from human Lewy bodies mainly in the lack of fiber like structural features. Sometimes inclusion bodies can also be seen in the nucleus, which is significantly different from human PD. Some genetically modified mice only have inclusion body formation and motor dysfunction but no degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, and these mice have more obvious brainstem motor neuron lesions. Another phenomenon is that the pathological changes in wild-type and mutant transgenic mice are basically the same. The α - synuclein transgenic fruit flies exhibit some important features of PD, including loss of DA neurons, formation of intracellular inclusions, and motor dysfunction. Due to the thorough study of the genetic law of Drosophila melanogaster and its short life span, this model is of great value in understanding the role of some new proteins in the pathogenesis of PD.

  (3) Most cases of PD in comparative medicine are sporadic, and genetic factors do not play a major role. Familial PD accounts for a minority of cases in the PD population, and genetic factors play a key role. Currently, at least two pathogenic genes for familial PD have been identified, including alpha synuclein and Parkin. Transgenic animals that can express wild or mutated genes related to PD can serve as genetic models for PD, and can be used for research on the pathogenic mechanisms of related pathogenic genes, the interaction between environmental and genetic factors, and other aspects.