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.
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
R6/2 Mice - Late Stage Disease Model for Huntington‘s Disease Research
R6/2 Mice – Late Stage Disease Model for Huntington‘s Disease Research
R6/2 Mice express the N-terminal fragment of the human huntingtin (HTT) protein with ~120 CAG repeats under the control of the human HTT promoter. Animals are a highly used model for the development of drugs against Huntington’s disease.
Mice present the following phenotype:
- 50 % survival at ~100 days
- Learning deficits at 10 weeks
- Motor deficits at 8 weeks
- Strong HTT overexpression at 12 weeks
- Strong neuroinflammation at 12 weeks
R6/2 have a mean survival of 15 weeks and show re-learning deficits at the age of 10 weeks (Figure 1).
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Figure 1: Survival and Learning Deficits in R6/2 Mice. A: Survival curve of R6/2 mice and non-transgenic littermates (ntg); n = 8/group. B: Two choice swim test of 10 week old R6/2 mice and ntg littermates; n = 15/group; Two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s post hoc test. Mean ± SEM. *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
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Figure 2: Motor Deficits of R6/2 Mice A: Hanging time in seconds in the wire suspension test of 4 and 12 weeks old R6/2 and ntg littermates; B: Number of bites per episode in the pasta gnawing test; C: Latency to fall off the rod in the RotaRod test; D: Number of slips on a 10 mm square beam of the beam walk test. B-D: 4, 8 and 12 week old R6/2 and ntg littermates. A-D: n = 15/group; Two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni‘s post hoc test. Mean ± SEM. *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001. |
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Figure 3: Quantification of Huntingtin in 12 Week old R6/2 Mice. A: Immunoreactive area of huntingtin in percent in the caudate putamen B: Immunoreactive area of huntingtin in percent in the caudate putamen. A and B: n = 4/group; Unpaired t-test. Mean + SEM. ***p<0.001.
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R6/2 mice show increased astrocytosis in the caudate putamen and hippocampus at the age of 12 weeks (Figure 4). Similar effects could be observed for activated microglia in the same brain regions (data not shown).
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Figure 4: Quantification of Astrocytosis in 12 Week old R6/2 Mice. A: Immunoreactive area of GFAP in percent in the caudate putamen B: Immunoreactive area of GFAP in percent in the caudate putamen. A and B: n = 4/group; Unpaired t-test. Mean + SEM. ***p<0.001.
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Webinar “Predictive Disease Models for CNS Drug Development“
In November 2018, Birgit Hutter-Paier, PhD, the Director of Neuropharmacology at QPS Austria presented this webinar about validated transgenic and non-transgenic in vitro and in vivo models covering most targets of AD, PD, HD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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You will learn:
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Brought to you by ADDF ACCESS, a program of the ADDF and Science Exchange, as part of their commitment to connect researchers developing CNS drugs with technologies that can help accelerate breakthrough discoveries.
Format: 30 minutes with 10 minutes Q&A
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.