Munich (dpa) – A German research centre keeps 10,000 mice suffering from a wide variety of illnesses from rheumatism and allergies, to high blood sugar and high cholesterol levels.
The Institute for Experimental Genetics at the Research Centre for Environment and Health (GSF) in Neuherberg, near Munich, is a “mouse clinic” that uses the animals in its search to discover the causes of hereditary diseases in humans.
Recently, researchers at the centre discovered the gene which in mutant form triggers the eye disease grey star in both mice and humans.
Many known human illnesses also occur in mice, said Martin Hrabe de Angelis, head of the Institute for Experimental Genetics. “Mice and men may look very different from each other, but their genes contain a 90 per cent similarity rate,” he said.
By modifying the genetic make-up of mice, researchers have discovered symptoms of diseases such as muscular atrophy, deafness and obesity. Many mice also showed signs of hereditary behavioural problems such as aggression or drug dependence.
The mice are treated for research purposes with a special substance called ethyl nitroso uric acid, which causes point mutations in their DNA, and thereby enables the scientists to alter parts of their DNA chain. Many hereditary illnesses can be traced back to these point mutations, said Dr. Hrabe de Angelis.
The Munich researchers are particularly interested to discover whether specific illnesses are hereditary. The descendants of the laboratory mice are therefore examined thoroughly in a total 150 different tests.
These differ very little from tests on people. “We have special mini X-ray devices for mice and even MRI scanners,” said Hrabe de Angelis.
If researchers discover a mutation in a mouse, their symptoms are examined further or sent on to specialists in other laboratories. Twelve external laboratories are now involved in research using mice, said Hrabe de Angelis.
“Our mice have already travelled the world to research laboratories in Israel, Finland or the USA,” he said. Researchers can even order mice via the Internet: www.gsf.de/ieg/groups/enu- mouse.html.
The researchers’ main difficulty is in identifying the mutant gene from the symptoms, said Dr. Hrabe de Angelis. But once a defect in the genetic make-up has been located, it is easier to find the right medication to treat the illness.
Dr. Hrabe de Angelis said all the tests serve the purpose of medical research alone, with the aim of curing human diseases. He said it will be many years yet before we understand most diseases. Nevertheless he is optimistic: “Research on mice has opened a whole new door finally to be able to understand diseases.”
