The Cuprizone Mouse Model: A Comparative Study of Cuprizone Formulations from Different Manufacturers

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 24, pp. 10564

Abstract

The Cuprizone mouse model is widely used in studies on de- and remyelination. In the hands of different experimenters, the Cuprizone concentrations that lead to comparable levels of demyelination differ considerably. The reasons for this variability are unknown. In this study, we tested whether different Cuprizone formulations from different vendors and manufacturers influenced Cuprizone-induced histopathological hallmarks. We intoxicated male C57BL/6 mice with six Cuprizone powders that differed in their manufacturer, vendor, and purity. After five weeks, we analyzed the body weight changes over the course of the experiment, as well as the demyelination, astrogliosis, microgliosis and axonal damage by histological LFB-PAS staining and immunohistochemical labelling of PLP, IBA1, GFAP and APP. All Cuprizone formulations induced demyelination, astrogliosis, microgliosis, axonal damage and a moderate drop in body weight at the beginning of the intoxication period. In a cumulative evaluation of all analyses, two Cuprizone formulations performed weaker than the other formulations. In conclusion, all tested formulations did work, but the choice of Cuprizone formulation may have been responsible for the considerable variability in the experimental outcomes.

Authors 9

1. Malena Beecken

   Universitätsmedizin Rostock

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany

2. Louise Baumann

   Universitätsmedizin Rostock

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany

3. Elise Vankriekelsvenne

   Universitätsmedizin Rostock

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany

4. Katerina Manzhula

   Universitätsmedizin Rostock

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany

5. Theresa Greiner

   Universitätsmedizin Rostock

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany

6. Leo Heinig

   Universitätsmedizin Rostock

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany

7. Steffen Schauerte Aachen Institute of Organic Chemistry

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Organic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

8. Markus Kipp

   Universitätsmedizin Rostock

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany

9. Sarah Joost corresponding

   Universitätsmedizin Rostock

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany