PS19 (B6;C3-Tg(Prnp-MAPT*P301S)PS19Vle/J)

PS19 Transgenic (Tg) mice express the P301S mutant form of human tau and develop progressive accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles with age.  Thus, the strain is commonly used as a model of tauopathy, such as Alzheimer's Disease.

Male PS19 transgenic mice (Tg) display a phenotype characterized by mildly altered activity as well as behavior suggesting impaired learning and memory.  In the activity chamber, Tg mice performed a higher frequency of jumps, which may be related to exploration or stereotyped behaviors.  In the elevated plus maze, Tg mice displayed a trend for increased open arm duration.   In the water maze, Tg mice used more time to reach the hidden platform during the training trials,  and spent less time in the target quadrant, which previously contained the escape platform, during probe trials; altogether suggesting impaired learning and memory of the escape platform location. *p<0.05

Immunostaining of a 10 month old PS19 transgenic mouse shows AT8 positive staining (green), a marker of phosphorylated tau. Dapi (blue) and Nissl (red) are also shown.