Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 7, 2026
09:37
A Phenotyping Regimen for Genetically Modified Mice Used to Study Genes Implicated in Human Diseases of Aging
Published on: July 14, 2016
8.9K
Motor phenotype is not associated with vascular dysfunction in symptomatic Huntington's disease transgenic R6/2 (160
A Di Pardo1, A Carrizzo1, A Damato1
1IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (Italy).
Scientific Reports
|February 18, 2017
Summary
Huntington's disease (HD) does not cause vascular dysfunction in mice, despite cardiac issues. This study found no link between motor deficits and vascular problems in the R6/2 model.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiovascular Science
- Genetics
Background:
- Huntington's disease (HD) is primarily neurological but shows peripheral pathology, including cardiac defects.
- Vascular dysfunction is often associated with cardiac impairment, but its presence in HD remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate vascular system function in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease.
- To determine if cardiac dysfunction in HD correlates with peripheral vascular dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Functional characterization of the vascular system using wire myography in symptomatic R6/2 mice and wild-type littermates.
- Assessment of disease stage through behavioral tests (rotarod, horizontal ladder task).
Main Results:
- No detectable vascular dysfunction was observed in symptomatic R6/2 mice.
- No correlation was found between the motor phenotype and vascular reactivity.
Conclusions:
- The R6/2 mouse model does not exhibit peripheral vascular dysfunction, even with cardiac pathology.
- Vascular integrity appears unaffected in this HD mouse model, irrespective of motor impairment.
