Alzheimer’s Disease – Transgenic Tau Mouse Models
Test potential therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease and other Tauopathies in Transgenic Tau mouse models with Tau deposition and the downstream pathological events
Transgenic Tau Mouse Models Key Characteristics
The histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are extracellular plaques composed of amyloid beta (Aβ) and intracellular inclusions of the protein Tau (neurofibrillary tangles). Tau is encoded by the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene. Tau pathology in AD and other Tauopathies such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is strongly associated with neurodegeneration and clinical symptoms.
Transgenic mouse models overexpressing human Tau with disease associated MAPT mutations display abundant tau pathology, neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and behavioural impairments; making them ideal models to test therapeutic interventions for AD and other tauopathies. Transgenic Tau mouse models recapitulating the Tau pathology are suitable for testing compounds for AD, but also a range of other Tauopathies (FTD, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, corticobasal degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy, Pick’s disease). InnoSer additionally offers Tau seeding models using recombinant and/or patient derived seeds or alternatively APP transgenic mice which recapitulate the amyloid beta pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. However, as each model is unique, modelling distinct pathophysiological aspects of Alzheimer’s disease, we recommend you discuss the most appropriate model with our neurology study directors.
✓ APP[V717I]xTau[P301L] double transgenic mouse model.
InnoSer offers expert guidance and a collaborative approach to selecting the best model for your research, as the models we offer present varying degrees of neurofibrillary tangles, neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and behavioral deficits.
InnoSer’s neurology expert team possesses relevant experience in working with multiple therapy types, including small molecules, peptides, enzymes, oligonucleotides, gene therapy (viral vectors, e.g., AAVs), and immunotherapies (antibody/vaccine immunotherapies).
Your Alzheimer’s Disease Research Starts Here.
Explore our expertly curated comparison of available mouse models to make faster, data-driven decisions. View example study timeline, recommended readouts, and example data featuring validation datasets across the different mouse models.
Transgenic Tau Mouse Models Sample Data
Transgenic P301S (PS19) mice show Tau pathology (AT8; phosphorylated Tau) at 8 months of age
Transgenic P301S (PS19) have astro- and microgliosis at 8 months of age.
Thy1-P301L mice show subtle, but significant changes in gait and footprint size on the Catwalk test indicating fine motor skills deficit at 6 months of age; by 10 months or older, these mice show profound motor function deficits
The CatWalk XT (Noldus IT, The Netherlands) is a gait analysis system for quantitative assessment of gait and locomotion in mice. It is the most sophisticated system for the quantification of a wide range of parameters related to footprints and gait in unforced moving animals.
Thy1 (P301S) mice show a progressive decrease in grip strength from 14 weeks of age onwards.
The Grip Strength test assesses neuromuscular function by measuring the peak force a mouse can apply by grasping a bar connected to a force meter. Five trials with front paws are followed by five trials with front and hind paws combined. The median of these five trials is used as a measure of grip strength. The grip strength test is used in Tau transgenic models to longitudinally follow the build-up of toxic Tau protein in the brain stem and spinal cord.
Transgenic Tau Mouse Models Readouts
Biological Readouts
Test the efficacy of your treatments with the following biological readouts:
- MSD: Plasma, CSF, and brain (pTau, cytokines, NF-L)
- (Digital) histopathology
- Immunohistochemistry (e.g., pTau, neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration)
- Immunofluorescence and FISH
The People Behind Your Research
Sofie Carmans, PhD
Principal Scientist Neurology
Thomas Vogels, PhD
Principal Scientist Neurology
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best tau transgenic mouse model for preclinical research?
While there is no single “best” transgenic tau model that recapitulates the full scope of the disease, the optimal mouse model depends on your therapeutic program needs’ (i.e., mechanism of action of your therapeutic, intended clinical indication), based on which the most suitable transgenic tau mouse model can be recommended.
Indeed, as highlighted in a recent 20-year systematic review of tauopathy mouse models (Langness et al., 2025), mouse model selection should be driven by the specific mechanism of action, therapeutic modality, and stage of disease under investigation. While no single animal model fully recapitulates all aspects of human tauopathy, several models have emerged as widely adopted standards in preclinical research.
Among these, the PS19 mouse model is the most commonly used tau transgenic model in therapeutic evaluations, accounting for approximately 29.6% of all preclinical studies. The rTg4510 mouse model follows with 19.8%, the JNPL3 mouse model represents 11.3%, and the Tau[P301S] mouse model accounts for approximately 8.1% of therapeutic evaluations. The continued popularity of PS19 reflects its historical adoption, robust tau pathology, and extensive legacy dataset.
InnoSer offers the PS19 line as well as well as complementary Tau[P301S] and Tau[P301L] lines, enabling selection based on disease kinetics, reproducibility, and translational alignment.
Which transgenic tau mouse model should I use for my therapeutic program?
The choice of tau transgenic mouse model should align with the specific biological question being addressed. If the goal is rapid screening with aggressive pathology, models such as rTg4510 may be suitable. If reproducibility and controlled disease kinetics are prioritized, the Tau[P301S] mouse model may offer advantages. If comparability with historical literature is critical, the PS19 mouse model remains the most commonly used reference model.
Importantly, given the limitations inherent to any single animal model, preclinical proof-of-concept studies are ideally performed in more than one tau background. Evaluating therapeutic efficacy in both P301S and P301L models, for example, helps distinguish mutation-specific artifacts from broadly translatable tau-modifying effects. A cross-model validation strategy significantly strengthens translational confidence.
Can the prion-like spreading hypothesis of tau be assessed in your transgenic tau mouse models?
The prion-like spreading hypothesis of tau proposes that misfolded tau aggregates act as pathogenic “seeds” that propagate from cell to cell, inducing conformational conversion and aggregation of native tau in recipient neurons. This templated misfolding and trans-synaptic spread of tau pathology is increasingly recognized as a key mechanism underlying disease progression in tauopathies and Alzheimer’s disease.
This mechanism is frequently modelled in transgenic tau mouse models with the goal of establishing more translationally relevant mouse models of tau pathology. Multiple research groups demonstrated prion-like spreading of tau pathology in vivo, whereby pathological tau seeds induce conformational conversion of endogenous tau and accelerate aggregate formation. Transgenic P301S or P301L models, such as the Tau[P301S] mouse model, the Tau[P301L] mouse model, or the PS19 mouse model, provide an optimal genetic background for studying this process due to their expression of human mutant tau.
Learn more about InnoSer’s Tau mouse model and how you can leverage them in your preclinical research by clicking on the respective links above.
InnoSer’s Available Alzheimer’s Disease Model Types
Amyloid (APP/ AB) Transgenic Mouse Models
InnoSer offers preclinical research services with several different transgenic amyloid models, which recapitulate the plaque pathology of AD.
Transgenic Tau Mouse Models
InnoSer offers unique research services with several different transgenic tau models, which recapitulate the Tau neurofibrillary tangle pathology of AD.
Tau Seeding & Spreading Mouse Models
InnoSer uses an AD brain extract injection model, providing unique preclinical services with a translational model of Tau pathology seeding and spreading.
In Vitro Neurology Assays
Screen your lead candidate compounds using InnoSer’s in vitro neurology assays to progress to preclinical in vivo studies with confidence
InnoSer’s Available Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Models
Transgenic PS19 Mouse Model
Leverage one of the most widely used mouse models in preclinical research to evaluate the efficacy of your compound targeting tau pathology
![APP[V717I] mouse model](https://www.innoserlaboratories.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/APPV717I-mouse-model.png)
APP[V717I] mouse model
Tau[P301S] Mouse Model
Leverage InnoSer’s proprietary Tau[P301S] mouse model with reproducible and aggressive Tau pathology for fast, decision-driven preclinical efficacy studies
![APP[V717I] x PS1[A246E] mouse model](https://www.innoserlaboratories.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/APPV717I-x-PS1A246E-mouse-model.png)
APP[V717I] x PS1[A246E] mouse model
Test the efficacy of therapies targeting amyloid-beta accumulation, neuroinflammation, and cognitive impairment in an early-onset amyloidosis transgenic APPxPS1 Alzheimer’s disease model
![Tau[P301L] Mouse Model](https://www.innoserlaboratories.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/TauP301L-Mouse-Model.png)
Tau[P301L] Mouse Model
Leverage InnoSer’s Tau[P301L] mouse model with progressive, well-characterized Tau pathology for mechanism-driven preclinical efficacy studies
Transgenic APP x PS1 ARTE10 mouse model
Advance your amyloid-lowering therapeutic program by leveraging the widespread amyloid-beta pathology of the ARTE10 mouse model for robust preclinical efficacy studies
![APP[V717I] x Tau[P301S] mouse model, european neurology CRO specialists](https://www.innoserlaboratories.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/APPV717I-x-TauP301S-mouse-model.png)
APP[V717I] x Tau[P301S] mouse model
Evaluate multi-target therapeutics in InnoSer’s combined APPxTau disease model
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AAALAC Accreditation
InnoSer has earned the AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating our commitment to responsible animal care and use. AAALAC International is a nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs. InnoSer’s facilities in the Netherlands and Belgium have been AAALAC-accredited since 2016 and 2020, respectively. Read more about the AAALAC accreditation programme here.
Animal Welfare
The 3Rs impact everything from policy and regulatory change to the development and uptake of new technologies and approaches. This is why InnoSer has ongoing commitment and monitoring of these processes. The steps we practice maximize our ability to replace, reduce and refine animal involvement and facilitate our commitment to these principles when it comes to research and drug development.
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