The invention provides a non-human animal model of Parkinson's disease based on animals which carry a modified version of the GDNF gene which comprises recombinase target sites flanking an essential part of said gene and a transgene which encodes for a recombinase specific for the target sites in the GDNF gene and which can be activated at will by administering a given compound to the animal. Activation of the recombinase in adult animals leads to a progressive catecholaminergic neuronal death. The invention also provides the use of said animals for the study of the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and for the identification of GDNF targets (which preserve the neurons from degeneration) as well as GDNF agonists and activators.

38 páginas, 8 figuras, 1 tabla. Fecha de prioridad: 07/12/2007. IPC: A01K-067/00; A61K-049/00; C07K-014/00; C12N-015/00. Solicitante: Universidad de Sevilla.

Peer reviewed