Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor knockout mice as animal models for studying receptor function

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, which are involved in a wide range of neuronal functions. During the past decade, a large number of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits have be en cloned and showed a discreet yet overlapping distribution pattern. Recen tly, several groups have produced mutant mice lacking specific nicotinic ac etylcholine receptor subunits. In this review, we focus on how the study of these knockout mouse models has advanced our understanding of the role ind ividual nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits play in the function and composition of endogenous receptors and the diverse pharmacological actions of nicotine in the mammalian nervous system. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.