Normal electrophysiological and behavioral responses to ethanol in mice lacking the long splice variant of the gamma2 subunit of the gamma-aminobutyrate type A receptor.

ABSTRACT: The gamma subunit of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABA(A)-R) is essential for bestowing both normal single channel conductance and sensitivity to benzodiazepines on native GABA(A)-Rs. The long splice variant of the gamma2 subunit (gamma2L) has been postulated to be essential in mediating the modulatory actions of ethanol at the GABA(A)-R. In order to evaluate this hypothesis, gene targeting was used to delete the 24bp exon which distinguishes gamma2L from the short splice variant (gamma2S). Mice homozygous for this exon deletion (gamma2L-/-) are viable and indistinguishable from wild-type (gamma2L+/+) mice. No gamma2L mRNA was detected in these mice, nor could gamma2L-containing GABA(A)-R protein be detected by specific antibodies. Radioligand binding studies showed the tot

SUBMITTER: Homanics GE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2859287 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature