Experimental therapeutics in transgenic mouse models of Huntington's disease

Despite important advances in understanding and elucidating the molecular and mechanistic pathways that mediate progression in Huntington's disease (HD), effective pharmacotherapy remains elusive. Insights into disease pathogenesis have come from studies using tissue culture, yeast, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster and transgenic mouse models. Here, we present a brief overview of HD pathogenesis and discuss the efficacy of therapeutic agents in transgenic mouse models of HD. We conclude by considering issues that affect the translation of findings in transgenic mouse models of HD to human clinical trials.