Generation of dynorphin knockout mice

• Published in: Brain research. Molecular brain research. Vol. 86; no. 1-2; pp. 70 - 75
• Main Authors: Sharifi, Nima, Diehl, Nicole, Yaswen, Linda, Brennan, Miles B., Hochgeschwender, Ute
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 31.01.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Chemistry - genetics; Cell receptors; Cell structures and functions; Dynorphins - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression - physiology; Homologous targeting; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout - genetics; Molecular and cellular biology; Mouse; Neuropeptide receptors; Protein Precursors - genetics; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RT/PCR; Stem Cells - physiology; Mouse; RT/PCR; Homologous targeting; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Targeting; Gene; Rodentia; Dynorphin; Peptidergic receptor; Mutation; Neuropeptide; Opioid peptide
• ISSN: 0169-328X; 1872-6941
• DOI: 10.1016/S0169-328X(00)00264-3

The opioid system has important roles in controlling pain, reward and addiction, and is implicated in numerous other processes within and outside the nervous system, such as mood states, immune responses, and prenatal developmental processes. The effects of the opioid system are mediated by at least three ligands, enkephalin, endorphin, and dynorphin, which act through the opioid receptors μ, δ, and κ. In order to dissect the roles of individual components of the opioid system, mutant mice lacking single ligands or receptors are instrumental. We report here on the generation and initial characterization of a mutant mouse strain lacking pre-prodynorphin. Dynorphin ‘knockout’ mice are viable, healthy, and fertile and show no overt behavioral differences to wildtype littermates. Dynorphin knockout mice constitute a valuable tool for many research areas, among them research into pain, substance abuse, and epilepsy.