A novel murine model of aging, Senescence-Accelerated Mouse (SAM).

Senescence-Accelerated Mouse (SAM) has been under development by our research team at Kyoto University since 1970, based on the AKR/J strain donated by the Jackson Laboratory in 1968. The SAM mouse has an accelerated senescence and age-associated pathologies such as senile amyloidosis, senile osteoporosis, degenerative joint disease, cataract, deficits in learning and memory, brain atrophy, hyperinflation of lungs, hearing impairment and so on. SAM research is advancing world-wide and attempts are being made to clarify fundamental mechanisms involved in primary aging processes, pathogenesis of age-associated pathologies and effective methods to modulate or ameliorate the advance of senescence and disease processes involved in age-associated pathologies.