Tau P301S Transgenic Mice Develop Gait and Eye Movement Impairments That Mimic Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Pathology

Background:

• Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a rare neurodegenerative disease affecting balance, gait, and eye movements.
• Tau pathology is central to PSP, but its precise role in symptoms is unclear due to limited animal models.
• Current treatments for PSP are not disease-modifying.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the hTau.P301S mouse as a model for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
• To assess if this mouse model recapitulates key clinical and pathological features of PSP.

Main Methods:

• The hTau.P301S mouse model was analyzed for motor and eye movement functions.
• Correlation between Tau pathology in motor control regions and observed motor deficits was investigated.

Main Results:

• The hTau.P301S mice displayed progressive impairments in balance and gait coordination.
• Deficits in fast vertical eye movements, a hallmark of PSP, were observed.
• A correlation was found between Tau pathology in motor regions and motor deficits.

Conclusions:

• The hTau.P301S mouse model effectively recapitulates critical clinical and pathological aspects of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
• This model offers a valuable tool for investigating PSP pathogenesis and developing potential treatments.