Abstract
Animal models represent a key tool for Huntington's disease (HD) research. During the last decade large animal models of HD have been established to improve knowledge of HD under large brain conditions.
Transgenic minipig expressing N-terminal part of human huntingtin with 124 CAG/CAA repeats seems to be very promising HD model. Its previous characterization has shown various phenotypes affecting subcellular, cellular as well as organ systems level.
The goal of this study was to detect and analyze a pathological pattern in physical activity of transgenic (TgHD) boars at the age of three years using telemetry approach. Into the study we have included five TgHD and five wild type (WT) animals for comparison.
The physical activity was measured by the telemetric system rodentPACK2 whereas transmitter was placed into the collar. The analysis have shown significant decrease of total acceleration representing physical activity in TgHD boars between 4:40 and 5:30 a. m. (after night sleep - before morning feeding) in comparison with WT ones which could be explained with disturbed energy metabolism.
Telemetry approach will play an important role in the study of physical activity and biopotentials essential for deeper characterization of large animal HD models in their preclinical and clinical phase