KBI establishes Parkinson Disease (PD) Models through: 1. Systemic MPTP (1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) Administration
KBI has the capability of producing different models of stroke, such as middle cerebral artery (MCAo) model and thromboembolism, in monkeys to mimic the pathophysiology of different types of strokes in patients. One of the commonly used stroke models is the ligation of unilateral MCAo followed by the removal of the occlusion through craniotomy surgery. This stroke model mimics the pathophysiology of ischemic-reperfusion in patients and the impact of craniotomy is manageable by comparing with the contralateral side by a range of assessments (Fig 1). This model is readily available for the evaluation of neuroprotective pharmaceutical agents.
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) are critically needed to facilitate translation of laboratory discoveries to clinical applications. KBI has designed a spinal cord impactor and operating procedures specific for producing a SCI model in monkeys to successfully evaluate the therapeutics for the treatment of SCI models.
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive disorder that typically presents as severe loss of memory, particularly of episodic memory. Non-human primate (monkeys) models have superior values to other laboratory animals for the research on this neurodegenerative disease because the close similarities of their neural system to humans. KBI readily has a large cohort of aged monkeys available for the screening of AD-related indications which can be compared to their junior counterparts in-house. KBI is well paced to evaluate the progression of AD and therapeutic effects on this ageing-related disease with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) Facility specific for testing on cognitive functions in monkeys. We also have a monkey-specific maze for tests of learning and memory.