Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), or Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), is caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine repeat in the ataxin-3 protein. We generated a mouse model of SCA3 expressing ataxin-3 with 148 CAG repeats under the control of the huntingtin promoter, resulting in ubiquitous expression throughout the whole brain. The model resembles many features of the disease in humans, including a late onset of symptoms and CAG repeat instability in transmission to offspring. We observed a biphasic progression of the disease, with hyperactivity during the first months and decline of motor coordination after about 1 year of age; however, intranuclear aggregates were not visible at this age. Few and small intranuclear aggregates appeared first at the age of 18 months, further supporting the claim that neuronal dysfunction precedes the formation of intranuclear aggregates.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Age of Onset
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Animals
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Ataxin-3
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Brain / metabolism
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Brain / pathology
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Brain / physiopathology
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Chromosomal Instability / genetics
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Disease Models, Animal
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Disease Progression
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Gene Expression / genetics*
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Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
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Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies / genetics
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Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies / metabolism
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Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies / pathology
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Machado-Joseph Disease / genetics*
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Machado-Joseph Disease / metabolism*
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Machado-Joseph Disease / physiopathology
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Mice
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Mice, Transgenic
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Movement Disorders / genetics
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Movement Disorders / metabolism
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Movement Disorders / physiopathology
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Mutation / genetics
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Rats
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Sex Characteristics
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Trinucleotide Repeats / genetics*
Substances
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Nuclear Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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Ataxin-3
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Atxn3 protein, mouse