An enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) replaces most of exon 2 of the solute carrier family 17, member 8 (Slc17a8 or Vglut3) gene in these mice. Gene function is abolished. EGFP signal is not detected. Homozygotes are viable, fertile, and normal in size. VGLUT3 is a vesicular glutamate transporter that mediates synaptic transmission by transporting the neurotransmitter, glutamate, into secretory vesicles. In wildtype mice, VGLUT3 is expressed by inner hair cells of the cochlea, by serotonergic neurons, cholinergic neurons, a particular subset of primary sensory afferents (low-threshold mechanoreceptors), a subset of GABAergic interneurons, and a variety of other cell populations, some not known to use glutamate as a transmitter. These VGLUT3 deficient mice are deaf and exhibit epileptic seizures with little change in motor behavior.
