Transgenic mouse expressing the human cyclooxygenase-2 gene and neuronal cell cultures derived therefrom

摘要

The invention provides for transgenic mice whose genomes comprise a gene encoding human cyclooxygenase-2 under the control of a neuron-specific promoter. The transgenic mice of the instant invention express human cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in neuronal cells of their hippocampi at increased levels relative to the level of human cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expressed in their cerebral white matter. Moreover, neuronal cell cultures derived from the transgenic mice of the instant invention arc more susceptible to aggregated Abeta25-35 peptide-mediated impairment of redox activity relative to those derived from mice non-transgenic for the human cyclooxygenase-2 gene. These transgenic animals and the neuronal cultures derived therefrom are useful iii elucidating the pathophysiological bases of neurodegenerative diseases and in improving the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders.