Mice that are homozygous for the targeted mutation are viable, fertile, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. No gene product (protein) is detected by Western blot analysis of MEF (mouse embryonic fibroblasts) derived from homozygotes. Homozygotes exhibit diminished social interaction behavior, do not barber or trim whiskers of cagemates, show subordinance in social dominance tests, do not sleep huddled together and do not build nests. Although mutants have an attenuated prepulse inhibition of acoustic and tactile startle (sensorimotor gating of the startle reflex), they do not exhibit any deficits in locomotor or cognitive function. This mutant mouse strain may be useful in studies of social behavior, sensorimotor gating, and possibly psychiatric disorders.
In an attempt to offer alleles on well-characterized or multiple genetic backgrounds, alleles are frequently moved to a genetic background different from that on which an allele was first characterized. This is the case for the strain above. It should be noted that the phenotype could vary from that originally described. We will modify the strain description if necessary as published results become available.
