Use this resource to identify and select the most appropriate mouse model of SMA for your research and to obtain a guide to help you efficiently work with these mice.
Comparison of Featured SMA Models
This table summarizes the differences among important mouse models for SMA to help you easily find the right strain for your research:
Strain Name | Common Name | Molecular Mutation | Phenotype | Survival |
|---|
FVB.Cg-Grm7Tg(SMN2)89Ahmb Smn1tm1Msd/J (005024) | Burghes’ Severe Model | Combines a knockout of mouse Smn1 (caused by insertion of a lacZ reporter) with a transgene that carries one normal copy of human SMN2 | Double homozygotes show vacant or partially occupied motor endplates, abnormal neurofilament protein accumulations in presynaptic motor neurons, decreased muscle fiber diameter, low body weight, and respiratory distress | Stillborn or die by postnatal days 4-6 |
FVB.Cg-Grm7Tg(SMN2)89Ahmb Smn1tm1Msd Tg(SMN2*delta7)4299Ahmb/J (005025) | SMNdelta7 or Moderate Type II SMA mice | Triple mutant contains a knockout of mouse Smn1 (caused by insertion of a lacZ reporter) and two transgenes, one with a single normal copy of human SMN2 and the second with a human SMN2 promoter and a human SMN2 cDNA that lacks exon 7 (SMNdelta7) | Triple homozygotes have decreased body weight and impaired righting response at P5, have abnormal gate and impaired balance and limb coordination by P10, and skeletal muscle fiber atrophy and abnormal cardiac morphology and function by P14 | Death by postnatal days 15-22 (mean survival of 17.7 days) |
FVB.Cg-Smn1tm1Hung Tg(SMN2)2Hung/J (005058) | SMA-like mice line 2 | Double mutant containing a knockout (deletion of exon 7) in mouseSmn1 and a transgene expressing normal human SMN2 | Double homozygotes have thickened tails but are otherwise normal, mice homozygous forSmn1tm1Hung and hemizygous for Tg(SMN2)2Hung have selective loss of thick myelinated motor neurons, decreased motor neuron number, and axon degeneration in spinal cord, muscular atrophy, and hindlimb paralysis | Double homozygotes have normal life span, mice homozygous forSmn1tm1Hung and hemizygous for Tg(SMN2)2Hung die by postnatal days 15-16 |
FVB.129(B6)-Smn1tm5(Smn1/SMN2)Mrph/J (008604) | Smn1C | Expresses a targeted knock-in mutation containing two coding sequences; the first encodes a hybrid gene in which mouseSmn1 exons 7 and 8 were replaced by human exons 7 and 8, and the second encodes a full-length human SMN2 gene | Homozygotes exhibit tail necrosis, low body weight, diminished grip strength, and lower bone mineral content and density with age | Normal life span |
Featured JAX® Mice Models of SMA
FVB.Cg-Grm7Tg(SMN2)89Ahmb Smn1tm1Msd/J
(005024)
- Common name: Burghes’ Severe Model
- Genetic background: FVB/N; incipient congenic (N5)
- Double mutant contains a knockout of mouse Smn1 (caused by insertion of a lacZ reporter) and a transgene with one normal copy of humanSMN2 (Monani et al. 2000)
- Affected mice exhibit abnormal muscular innervation, motor neuron degeneration, tremors, abnormal suckling behavior
- Mortality: stillborn or death by postnatal days 4-6
FVB.Cg-Grm7Tg(SMN2)89Ahmb Smn1tm1Msd Tg(SMN2*delta7)4299Ahmb/J
(005025)
- Common name: SMNdelta7 or Moderate Type II SMA mice
- Genetic background: FVB/N; incipient congenic (N6)
- Triple mutant contains a knockout of mouse Smn1 (caused by insertion of a lacZ reporter) and two transgenes, one with a single normal copy of human SMN2 and the second with a human SMN2 promoter regulating expression of human SMN2 cDNA that lacks exon 7 (SMNdelta7) (Le et al. 2005)
- Affected mice exhibit abnormal muscular innervation and neuromuscular synapse morphology, impaired righting response by postnatal day 5 (P5), abnormal gate and impaired balance and limb coordination by P10, and skeletal muscle fiber atrophy by P14
- Mortality: death by postnatal days 15-22 (mean survival of 17.7 days)
FVB.Cg-Smn1tm1Hung Tg(SMN2)2Hung/J
(005058)
- Common name: SMA-like mice line 2
- Genetic background: FVB/N; fully congenic (N10)
- Double mutant containing a knockout (deletion of exon 7) in mouseSmn1 and a transgene expressing normal human SMN2 (Hsieh-Li et al. 2000)
- Double homozygotes have thickened tails and otherwise normal phenotype
- Mice homozygous for Smn1tm1Hung and hemizygous for Tg(SMN2)2Hung exhibit abnormal motor neuron morphology, decreased motor neuron number, muscular atrophy, and hindlimb paralysis
- Mortality in mice homozygous for Smn1tm1Hung and hemizygous for Tg(SMN2)2Hung: death by postnatal days 15-16
FVB.129(B6)-Smn1tm5(Smn1/SMN2)Mrph/J
(008604)
- Common name: Smn1C
- Genetic background: FVB/NJ (001800); fully congenic using speed congenic protocol (N8)
- Expresses a targeted knock-in mutation containing two coding sequences; the first generates a mouse:human hybrid protein in which mouseSmn1 exons 7 and 8 were replaced by human exons 7 and 8, and the second is a full copy of the human SMN2 gene (Osborne et al. 2012)
- Homozygotes exhibit tail necrosis, low body weight, diminished grip strength, and lower bone mineral content and density with age
- Normal life span
