The orphanin FQ/nociceptin knockout mouse: a behavioral model for stress responses.
Transgenic mice lacking expression of the OFQ/N precursor protein have provided exciting insights in the physiological functions of this neuropeptide system. While injection of OFQ/N or selective synthetic agonists produces anxiolytic effects in rodents, OFQ/N knockout mice display increased anxiety and impaired adaptation to repeated stress. On the other hand, mice lacking the cognate OFQ/N receptor, ORL1, show improved spatial attention and memory but appear to have normal anxiety and stress behavior. Availability of a selective small molecule OFQ/N antagonist might help clarify this discrepancy.
D000818:Animals; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D000097629:Nociceptin
D018847:Opioid Peptides; D000097629:Nociceptin