AAV9-Mediated Intrastriatal Delivery of Mutant HTT With 82 CAG Repeats Induces Huntington's Disease-Like Pathology and Behavioral Deficits in Mice.

Abstract

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene. Existing toxin-induced and genetic models provide important insights, but none fully replicate the progressive pathology of HD. An AAV9-mediated striatal mouse model expressing mutant HTT with 82 CAG repeats was established to reproduce hallmark neuropathological changes and behavioral deficits. Male C57BL/6 mice received bilateral intrastriatal injections of AAV9-HTT-82Q or control AAV9-GFP. Behavioral performance was assessed by rotarod, balance beam, open field, and Y-maze tests. Neuropathology was examined with HE/Nissl staining, TUNEL assay, and immunofluorescence for mHTT, DARPP-32, GFAP, and Iba1. AAV9-82Q mice exhibited progressive motor coordination deficits on the rotarod from Week 4 and impaired beam traversal from Week 18. Open field testing revealed persistent hyperactivity from Week 8, while anxiety-like and cognitive measures showed only mild, non-significant trends. Histological analysis demonstrated extensive mHTT aggregation in the striatum, accompanied by neuronal pyknosis, vacuolization, and significant loss of Nissl-positive neurons. TUNEL staining confirmed increased apoptosis. Immunofluorescence further revealed selective reduction of DARPP-32+ medium spiny neurons, along with marked astrogliosis and microgliosis, indicating robust neurodegeneration and inflammatory responses. The AAV9-82Q model induces adult-onset, progressive HD-like pathology with early motor impairments, neuronal loss, and glial activation. It complements existing models and provides a reproducible platform for mechanistic studies and preclinical therapeutic evaluation.