Creative Biolabs is a premier preclinical CRO provider of in vivo pharmacology services and offers a wide spectrum of rodent models and primate models for our clients. Especially, we offer rodent models of narcolepsy to help the development of safe and effective treatments for people with narcolepsy.
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurologic sleep disorder characterized by abnormal sleep tendencies, including excessive daytime sleepiness, disturbed nocturnal sleep, and manifestations related to rapid eye movements (REM) sleep such as cataplexy (muscle weakness triggered by emotions), sleep paralysis, and hypnopompic or hypnagogic hallucinations. Narcolepsy is clinically categorized as occurring with cataplexy or without cataplexy. Narcolepsy with cataplexy is genetically associated with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele DQB1*0602, suggesting the involvement of the immune system. A small portion of cases of narcolepsy without cataplexy is also HLA positive. The most likely cause for narcolepsy has been identified as a loss of hypothalamic neurons that contain the peptide orexin, which is also called hypocretin. The treatment of narcolepsy typically uses drugs such as antidepressants, modafinil or amphetamine-like stimulants, and sodium oxybate. With great advances made in understanding the underlying biology of narcolepsy, new and possibly more effective treatments are to be developed in the future.
Fig.1 Hypocretin excites the major neural networks controlling wakefulness. (Kornum et al. 2017)
Due to the findings that narcolepsy results from alterations in the genes involved in the physiology of the hypocretin (orexin) ligand or its receptor, current narcolepsy models are constructed by genetically disrupting the orexinergic circuit. Different alterations of this orexin signaling have been produced, including deletion of the prepro-orexin gene, transgenic expression of a toxic protein (ataxin-3) that selectively kills the orexin-producing neurons, and deletion of the orexin receptor OX2R, etc. These mice have cataplexy-like behavioral arrests, poor maintenance of wakefulness, and fragmented sleep, sharing many similarities with human cataplexy. This variety of rodent narcolepsy models enables researchers to develop new therapeutics.
At Creative Biolabs, we have established a powerful genetically engineering model platform that allows us to provide customized genetically modified mice/rat models of various diseases, including narcolepsy, to suit the particular needs of our clients. Our expert scientific team is skilled at numerous tools for genome manipulation and we are confident in offering the most reliable and comprehensive genetically engineering services.
Creative Biolabs conducts contract studies in rodent narcolepsy models and provides various outcome measures for assessment of potential therapeutics. We offer assessments including but not limited to:
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Creative Biolabs is dedicated to improving the understanding of the human central nervous system (CNS) disorders and developing effective and efficient therapeutic interventions. Our preclinical service section is one of the most experienced in the world for screening and testing of experimental therapeutics of CNS disorders. Our comprehensive battery of rodent neurological disease models covers:
Creative Biolabs offers expert assistance in the planning, analysis, and interpretation of preclinical efficacy studies, and deliver reliable, on-time, and quality results. If you are interested in our services, please contact us to discuss your research needs and get a formal quotation.
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