M1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine receptor Knockout Mice

Introduction Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are members of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily expressed in neurons, cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle, and a variety of epithelia. The M1 receptors are predominantly expressed in the CNS and are the most abundant muscarinic receptor subtype in the cerebral cortex. They are extensively involved in cortical cognition and learning-induced or experience-dependent cortical plasticity. Technology description Dr Neil Nathanson’s laboratory has generated M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor knockout mice. REK 3 embryonic stem cells were electroporated with the linearized m1 targeting vector. Of the six recombinant cell lines injected into C57BL/6 blastocysts to generate chimeric mice, one contributed to the germ line. All mice are F2 hybrids (from C57BL/6 × 129SvJ parents) derived from this line. Pharmacological studies have implicated M1-like receptors in many processes in the central nervous system, including memory and learning, regulation of circadian rhythm, establishment of ocular dominance columns in the visual cortex, and control of drinking. The M1 mutant mice should be of great use in evaluating the role of the M1 receptor in mediating these processes. In addition, it should be of interest to determine the effects of disrupting the genes encoding other mAChR subtypes to define the functions of each of the muscarinic receptors in the nervous system. Related Publication(s)
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 November 25; 94(24): 13311–13316.

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