QPS Neuropharmacology is the division of QPS that focuses on preclinical studies in CNS diseases, Orphan Diseases and Mental Disorders. The on-site availability of highly predictive disease models and unparalleled experience with studies performed for biopharmaceutical companies of all sizes makes QPS Neuropharmacology the first choice for most CNS drug development needs.
Validated transgenic and non-transgenic in vitro and in vivo models cover most targets of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Niemann-Pick Disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Schizophrenia, Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and other neurodegenerative diseases.
QPS is a global contract research organization (CRO) providing discovery, preclinical and clinical drug development services since 1995. Our mission is to accelerate pharmaceutical breakthroughs across the globe by delivering custom-built research services. An award-winning leader in the CRO industry, QPS is known for proven quality standards, technical expertise, a flexible approach to research, client satisfaction and turnkey laboratories and facilities.
QPS Neuropharmacology is a preclinical full-service contract research organization (CRO) focusing on CNS diseases, Orphan diseases and mental disorders.
The availability of highly predictive disease models and unparalleled experience with studies performed for biopharmaceutical companies of all sizes makes QPS the first choice for most needs in CNS drug development.
Validated transgenic and non-transgenic in vitro and in vivo models cover most targets of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Huntington’s Disease (HD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Niemann-Pick Disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Schizophrenia, Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Why choose us?
Customer satisfaction is our absolute priority
Your timeline is our timeline
Every study is custom-built
Scientific input to study design and data interpretation
Extensive experience with virtually all drug targets and treatment types
Wide range of validated models and techniques for comprehensive compound tests from a single source
AAALAC certification ensures highest quality standards
QPS NEURO NEWS
December 2019 - Injection of 6-OHDA in the rat MFB
Besides transgenic rodent models QPS Neuropharmacology provides one of the most frequently used animal models for PD utilizing unilateral injection of 6- hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) in rats, which results in total denervation of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway.
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Figure 1: Unilateral injection into the MFB of saline (A, B) or 6-OHDA (C, D) in male Wistar Han rats. Immunofluorescent labeling on coronal brain sections revealed an almost complete loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; orange) in the ipsilateral caudate putamen (CPu; C) as well as in the substantia nigra (SN; D) after 6-OHDA injection. Saline injection did not affect TH immunoreactivity (A, B). Cell nuclei were labeled with DAPI (blue). Arrows in A and C indicate CPu, arrows in B and D indicate SN. |
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Figure 2: Cylinder test of 6-OHDA lesioned rats. Ipsilateral fore limb use after unilateral 6-OHDA injection into the MFB. 6-OHDA significantly increased the frequency of ipsilateral fore limb use compared to saline injected control animals 3, 4 and 5 weeks after surgery. Number in columns gives group size (n); mean + SEM; mixed effects analysis with Bonferroni´s post hoc test; ***p<0.001. |
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Figure 3: Amphetamine-induced ipsilateral rotation of 6-OHDA-injected rat MFB. Rotational response to D-amphetamine 3 weeks after 6-OHDA injection. 2.5 mg/kg D-amphetamine was injected i.p. on the test day. 30 minutes later, rotations were analyzed in the rotometer bowl. 6-OHDA-injected rats performed almost only ipsilateral rotations while saline-injected rats performed approximately the same number of ipsi- and contralateral rotations (A). The total number of ipsilateral rotations during a 60 min period was significantly increased in 6-OHDA-injected rats compared to saline-injected control rats (B); Number in columns gives group size (n); mean + SEM, Mann Whitney test: ***p<0.001. |
Nothing to read for the Holidays? Check out our latest scientific publications!
Hepatic and neuronal phenotype of NPC1−/− mice. Estibaliz Santiago-Mujica, Stefanie Flunkert, Roland Rabl, Joerg Neddens, Tina Loeffler, Birgit Hutter-Paier; Heliyon. 2019 Mar 14;5(3):e01293. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01293
Correction: Further investigation of phenotypes and confounding factors of progressive ratio performance and feeding behavior in the BACHD rat model of Huntington disease. Clemensson EKH, Clemensson LE, Fabry B, Flunkert S, Riess O, Wronski R, Nguyen HP. PLoS One. 2019 Mar 7;14(3):e0213755. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213755. eCollection 2019.
Metabolic disease and ABHD6 alter the circulating bis(monoacylglycerol)phosphate profile in mice and humans. Grabner GF, Fawzy N, Pribasnig M, Trieb M, Taschler U, Holzer M, Schweiger M, Wolinski H, Kolb D, Horvath A, Breinbauer R, Ruelicke T, Rabl R, Lass A, Stadlbauer V, Hutter-Paier B, Stauber RE, Fickert P, Zechner R, Marsche G, Eichmann TO, Zimmermann R. J Lipid Res. 2019 Mar 20. pii: jlr.M093351. doi: 10.1194/jlr.M093351.
QPS Publications >
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In Vitro Services
QPS Austria’s Neuropharmacology Department provides research services with numerous standardized cell culture systems including transgenic and non-transgenic cell lines, glial cells, primary chicken and rat peripheral and central nervous system neurons of different developmental stages and organotypic brain slices. New models are developed and validated on request.
In Vivo Services
We have more than 15 years experience in generating, characterizing and maintaining transgenic disease models and using them for drug testing projects. Several customized behavioral tests, including motor, cognitive, and emotional assays, are offered to phenotype mouse and rat models and to evaluate effects of compounds in different in vivo models.
Ex Vivo Services
Our ex vivo services cover a full range of histological services, a biobank composed of various specimen derived from our in-house in vivo and in vitro models, and numerous well established tests for biomarkers. We are happy to test new protocols and establish new markers to meet your specific needs.
