Neuropathobiology in transgenic mice. The case of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The last decade has witnessed a quantum leap in our technical abilities to generate transgenic mice, up to the point that transgenic mouse models for any aspect of normal and pathologic physiology are within reach. Most difficult to attain, and impossible in humans, are invasive approaches in vivo, to define the molecular, biochemical and cellular functioning of the adult central nervous system (CNS) in normal conditions. However, even more desired, at least by some, are animal models for those neurodegenerative diseases that become increasingly devastating in the elderly. The most evident case in point is Alzheimer’s disease (AD).