Laquinimod has no effects on brain volume or cellular CNS composition in the F1 3xTg-AD/C3H mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

We show for the first time by MRI volumetric methods that there is no correlation between histopathological characteristics and brain volume changes in the F1 3xTg-AD/C3H mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Utilizing a dose response study design, four months old F1 3xTg-AD/C3H mice were treated for 10 months between ages 4 and 14 months with laquinimod (5, 10, or 25 mg/kg), or PBS administered by oral gavage. Brain volumes were measured in a 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imager (MRI) at ages 4 and 14 months. There was no detectable reduction of brain volume over a period of 10 months of treatment, as there was not brain atrophy in any of the control or treatment groups.140