title: Exploratory and habituation phenotype of heterozygous and homozygous COMT knockout mice.
abstract: Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inactivates dopamine in prefrontal cortex and is associated clinically with a schizophrenia endophenotype. Using an ethologically based approach, the phenotype of mice with heterozygous COMT deletion was characterised by decreased rearing with increased sifting and chewing. Heterozygous COMT deletion is associated with a distinctive phenotype. This differs from that which we have reported previously for heterozygous deletion of the schizophrenia risk gene neuregulin-1.
authors: Molecular & Cellular Therapeutics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Babovic
authors: Colm M
authors: CM
authors: O'Tuathaigh
authors: Gerard J
authors: GJ
authors: O'Sullivan
authors: Jeremiah J
authors: JJ
authors: Clifford
authors: Orna
authors: O
authors: Tighe
authors: David T
authors: DT
authors: Croke
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Karayiorgou
authors: Joseph A
authors: JA
authors: Gogos
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Cotter
authors: John L
authors: JL
authors: Waddington
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000172:deficiency*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000235:genetics*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase