Introduction
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease, has a complex and still unclear etiology that may be related to genetic and environmental factors. The disease is primarily characterized by motor neuron damage, leading to muscle atrophy, weakness, and stiffness. Early symptoms include clumsiness in fine hand movements, which gradually progress to limb weakness, difficulty walking, and eventually bedridden status. Currently, there is no cure; treatment focuses on slowing disease progression and improving quality of life, including pharmacotherapy, rehabilitation, and supportive care.
Disease models
The SMOC has long been dedicated to rare disease research and has independently developed a series of mouse and rat models for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which can be used for exploring disease mechanisms or conducting pharmacological and efficacy studies.
