Point mutant mice with hypersensitive alpha 4 nicotinic receptors: dompaminergic pathology and increased anxiety

摘要

The present invention relates to transgenic animals expressing a hypersensitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Transgenic animals have point mutations in the nucleic acid sequence encoding the alpha4 subunit of the receptor that result in increased sensitivity to nicotine. Such transgenic animals are model systems for nicotine addiction and certain types of epilepsy.