title: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor knockout mice as animal models for studying receptor function.
abstract: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, which are involved in a wide range of neuronal functions. During the past decade, a large number of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits have been cloned and showed a discreet yet overlapping distribution pattern. Recently, several groups have produced mutant mice lacking specific nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits. In this review, we focus on how the study of these knockout mouse models has advanced our understanding of the role individual nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits play in the function and composition of endogenous receptors and the diverse pharmacological actions of nicotine in the mammalian nervous system.
authors.affiliation: CNRS UA D1284-"Neurobiologie Moleculaire", Institut Pasteur, 28, rue du Dr. Roux, 75724, Paris, France.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Marubio
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Changeux
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008954:Models, Biological; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder
chemical_list: D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D009538:Nicotine