Developing a Mouse Model of Sensory and Cognitive Deficits for Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract : In this project, we have been developing a novel mouse model of MS with a focus on cognitive dysfunction and defective myelin using homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. We obtained homologous recombinants at high frequency; however, difficulties in deriving mice from the ES cells delayed our progress. We repeated the recombination experiments and again obtained high level recombination from our screens of embryonic stem cell clones but could not derive animals from these cells. We have discontinued business with the company used for the embryonic stem cell work and we are currently testing another facility to determine if we can continue our project. Future experiments will be funded from internal funding sources to ensure that we obtain the mouse model proposed in the current project. In addition to generation of our novel model, we developed neurophysiological techniques to assess cognitive deficits in our novel mouse model. These experiments involve using the auditory pathway to test neural processing in the superior olivary complex We have published one of these studies.