Neurotransmitter receptors gene studies

To provide an insight into the pathways involved in HD neurodegeneration, gene expression studies of the striatum were performed on the mouse model of HD, R6/2, which expresses exon 1 of the HD gene with 140 150 CAG repeats under control of the HD promoter [70], Eighty percent of cells in the mouse striatum were estimated to consist of medium spiny GABAergic neurons. Decreased neurotransmitter receptor gene expression was identified... 

AA metabolites and PAF have initially been studied in terms of their roles in the inflammatory response, such as increased vascular permeability and the activation of and infiltration by inflammatory cells. It is now becoming apparent, however, that these bioactive lipids have significant neurobiological actions in ion channel functions, receptors, neurotransmitter release, synaptic plasticity and neuronal gene expression. 

The dopamine beta-hydroxylase (Dbh) gene is necessary for the production of NE and epinephrine. Disruption of this gene results in the absence of NE and epinephrine production and is therefore used in studies determining the roles of these neurotransmitters. This approach is favored over the knockout of adrenergic receptors because of the multiplicity of receptor types for NE and epinephrine. 

Many researchers have come to believe that schizophrenia is a complex disease, possibly with a number of different causes or courses. PET studies of schizophrenia have found possible contributions of other receptors, including the dopamine D receptor as well as receptors for other neurotransmitters such as glutamate. Genetic researchers are searching for the genes involved in the expression and regulation of these receptors, any or all of which may be involved in some number of patients. 

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