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Animal Models of Dementia pp 399–413Cite as

APP-Based Transgenic Models: The APP23 Model

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Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 48))

Abstract

Animal models are considered essential in research for elucidation of human disease processes and subsequent testing of potential therapeutic strategies. This is especially true for neurodegenerative disorders, in which the first steps in pathogenesis are often not accessible in human patients. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is vastly becoming a major medical and social-economical problem in our aging society. Valid animal models for this uniquely human condition should exhibit histopathological, biochemical, cognitive, and behavioral alterations observed in AD patients. Major progress has been made since the understanding of the genetic basis of AD and the development and improvement of transgenic mouse models.

All AD models developed up to date are partial, but nevertheless, essential in further unraveling the nature, and spatial and temporal development of the complex molecular pathology underlying this condition. One of the more recent transgenic attempts to model AD is the APP23 transgenic mouse. This paper describes the development and assessment of this human amyloid precursor protein overexpression model. We summarize histopathological and biochemical, cognitive and behavioral observations made in heterozygous APP23 mice, thereby emphasizing the model’s contribution to clarification of neurodegenerative disease mechanisms. In addition, the first therapeutic interventions assessing predictive validity in the APP23 model are included.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financed by the Fund for Scientific Research – Flanders (FWO, G.0164.09), Agreement between the University of Antwerp and the Institute Born-Bunge, Interuniversity Poles of Attraction (IUAP Network P6/43), Methusalem excellence grant of the Flemish Government, Neurosearch Antwerp, the Antwerp Medical Research Foundation, and the Thomas Riellaerts Research fund. DVD is a postdoctoral fellow of the FWO.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Neurochemistry and Behaviour,Institute Born-Bunge,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium

    Debby Van Dam & Peter Paul De Deyn

  2. Department of Neurology, Middelheim Hospital, ZNA, Antwerp, Belgium

    Peter Paul De Deyn

Authors
  1. Debby Van Dam
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  2. Peter Paul De Deyn
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Correspondence to Debby Van Dam .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute Born-Bunge, Lab of Neurochemistry & Behaviour, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium

    Peter Paul De Deyn

  2. Institute Born-Bunge, Lab of Neurochemistry & Behaviour, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, 2610, Belgium

    Debby Van Dam

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Van Dam, D., De Deyn, P.P. (2011). APP-Based Transgenic Models: The APP23 Model. In: De Deyn, P., Van Dam, D. (eds) Animal Models of Dementia. Neuromethods, vol 48. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-898-0_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-898-0_20

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-897-3

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