Genetic rodent models

Belzung, C. The genetic basis of the pharmacological effects of anxiolytics a review based on rodent models. Behav. Pharmacol. 12 451 160, 2001. 

Comprehensive studies based on rodent models of anxiety have not only underlined that anxiety in itself represents a complex behavioral system but also that it is determined by both genetic and environmental factors as well as by the interaction between both. The examples used in this section have been selected to illustrate both the potential and the caveats of current models and the emerging possibilities offered by gene technology. These examples are thought to be representative of the different concepts followed in generating animal models. 

Whereas the genetic and kindling models have been widely used to investigate possible neurotransmitter defects that cause different types of epilepsy, rodent models in which seizures are induced by electroshock, or by convulsant drugs such as pentylenetetrazol (also called pentetrazol, leptazol), picrotoxin or bicuculline, are mainly used in screening procedures to identify potential anticonvulsants. 

There are both toxin and genetic animal models of PD. Many different toxins are used to generate DA degeneration. The most frequently used toxins in rodent models of PD are 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and 1-methyM-phenyl-l, 2, 3,... 

Accumulating evidence for important functions of enzymes involved in lipid synthesis and its control has been obtained through targeted disruption in rodent models of the corresponding genes (Fig. 11.2). However, direct links between abnormal expression or genetic variants and human disorders, such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and NIDDM await further clarification. Glycerol-... 

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