Description
The transgenic mice expressing the human mutated form (G93A) of the SOD1 gene represent a valuable model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). SOD1 is one of the main causative genes of familial ALS which accounts for 10% of cases. These transgenic animals develop a motorneuronal pathology that recapitulates well the neuropathological features occuring in ALS patients, and the progression of the disease can be monitored by a series of motor tests. Gastrocnemius is the first and most affected muscle in the disease, while triceps is relatively spared.