Modeling MS in Mice to Study Remyelination

To investigate potential causes and treatments for demyelinating diseases such as MS, researchers use various methods to cause a condition or symptoms similar to MS in laboratory animals.  Mice do not naturally develop MS, but mice are especially suited to studying MS-like disease because of their similarity to humans in anatomy, physiology, and genetics.  Researchers are able to create various genetic modifications in mice to mimic human disease.  Mice are small, inexpensive, and can reproduce quickly.

There are three major types of animal models used to study demyelinating disease: 1) genetic models, where genes important for CNS myelination, myelin maintenance or glial function have been altered; 2) immune-mediated models of induced pathogenesis towards myelin; and 3) toxin-mediated models using toxic substances that preferentially affect myelin (Pohl, 2011).
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To investigate potential causes and treatments for demyelinating diseases such as MS, researchers use various methods to cause a condition or symptoms similar to MS in laboratory animals.  Mice do not naturally develop MS, but mice are especially suited to studying MS-like disease because of their similarity to humans in anatomy, physiology, and genetics.  Researchers are able to create various genetic modifications in mice to mimic human disease.  Mice are small, inexpensive, and can reproduce quickly. 

There are three major types of animal models used to study demyelinating disease: 1) genetic models, where genes important for CNS myelination, myelin maintenance or glial function have been altered; 2) immune-mediated models of induced pathogenesis towards myelin; and 3) toxin-mediated models using toxic substances that preferentially affect myelin (Pohl, 2011).

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Multiple Sclerosis Research: Studying MS-like Disease in Mice