GENOME

In the brain different characteristics related both to normal and degenerative processes involved in nerve cell function are of importance for the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is under genetic control and in man mutations affecting these processes have been characterized. However, the degenerative processes and their prevention are difficult to study unless a suitable model system is available. The pig is a relevant animal model in respect to the neurodegenerative diseases due to the fact that the development of the central nervous system is very comparable between man and pig as opposed to for instance man and mouse. It is important to emphasize that most recently it has been shown that, in contrast to rodents, the brain of aging pigs accumulate the neurotoxic protein fragment Ab (I.E. Holm et al., unpublished) which is the most important protein in respect to development of Alzheimers disease.

Primary location: Frederiksberg C Denmark