Citation

Wood CM, Nicolas CS, Choi SL, Roman E, Nylander I, Fernandez-Teruel A, Kiianmaa K, Bienkowski P, de Jong TR, Colombo G, Chastagnier D, Wafford KA, Collingridge GL, Wildt SJ, Conway-Campbell BL, Robinson ES, Lodge D. Neuropharmacology 2016; 115: 128-138.

Affiliation

School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK. Electronic address: david.lodge@bristol.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.03.020

PMID

26987983

Abstract

Modulation of metabotropic glutamate 2 (mGlu2) receptor function has huge potential for treating psychiatric and neurological diseases. Development of drugs acting on mGlu2 receptors depends on the development and use of translatable animal models of disease. We report here a stop codon mutation at cysteine 407 in Grm2 (cys407*) that is common in some Wistar rats. Therefore, researchers in this field need to be aware of strains with this mutation. Our genotypic survey found widespread prevalence of the mutation in commercial Wistar strains, particularly those known as Han Wistar. Such Han Wistar rats are ideal for research into the separate roles of mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors in CNS function. Previous investigations, unknowingly using such mGlu2 receptor-lacking rats, provide insights into the role of mGlu2 receptors in behaviour. The Grm2 mutant rats, which dominate some selectively bred lines, display characteristics of altered emotionality, impulsivity and risk-related behaviours and increased voluntary alcohol intake compared with their mGlu2 receptor-competent counterparts. In addition, the data further emphasize the potential therapeutic role of mGlu2 receptors in psychiatric and neurological disease, and indicate novel methods of studying the role of mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors.

Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Language: en