In addition, similar to changes observed in sporadic ALS patients [55], the mRNA levels of 3 genes, Ankrd12, Mapt, and Rbm39, were decreased in the spinal cord of 3-month old N390D/+ male mice (Additional file 7: Figure S7c) as well as 6-month old ones (data not shown). This evidence concerns the gene MAPT and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.