Mouse with BDNF Val(66)Met Polymorphism
- *Abstract
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The recent discovery of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the BDNF gene leading to a valine (Val) to methionine (Met) substitution at codon 66 has generated an enormous amount of interest in the psychiatric research community. This SNP occurs in the prodomain of BDNF. This polymorphism is very common in human populations, with an allele frequency of 20-30%. Structural MRI scans demonstrate that humans heterozygous for the Met allele have smaller hippocampal volumes relative to controls, and perform poorly on memory tasks that rely heavily on the hippocampus.
The lab of Dr. Francis Lee at the Weill Cornell Medical College was the first to introduce this SNP into a mouse, in which it does not naturally occur. Surprisingly, the mouse faithfully replicates the human phenotype, making a model for the study of psychiatric and other diseases, including schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression.
- *Licensing
- Vibhu Sachdev(212) 746-6187sachdev@cornell.edu
- 其他
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Chen ZY, et al (2005) Sortilin controls intracellular sorting of brain-derived neurotrophic factor to the regulated secretory pathway. J Neurosci. 25(26):6156-66.
- 國家/地區
- 美國
