C. Torturo and S. Ramboz
Over the course of the past 20 years, CHDI and PsychoGenics have worked closely together on characterizing mouse models of Huntington’s disease. Primarily, the 120 CAG R6/2 model, the B6.Cg-Tg(HDexon1)61Gpb/J mouse line, or R6/1 model, and the zQ175 knock in model have been extensively studied at PsychoGenics. Each model carries a different modification of the huntingtin gene and/or protein and includes trinucleotide CAG repeats. While all models exhibit neurological decline, the severity and disease progression differ. In celebration of 20 years of scientific breakthroughs, here we present a side-by-side comparison of these widely used models, showcasing differences in behavioral, histological, and molecular readouts. Through our research, our ultimate goal is to provide validated and predictive tools for preclinical efficacy studies to support the pursuit of effective treatments for Huntington’s disease.