The Egr3- null allele has a neo cassette replacing a 0.9 kb region of the early growth response 3 (Egr3) gene which encodes the zinc-finger domain and C-terminus of the protein. Egr3 encodes an activity-dependent transcription factor found to regulate the neuronal expression of target genes in response to environmental events. EGR3 is regulated downstream of a cascade of genes associated with risk for psychiatric disorders, and dysfunction of Egr3 itself has been implicated in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Homozygous mice are viable with 40% dying by 21 days of age. Those that survive are poor breeders. Adult Egr3- null mice display marked ataxia characterized by a waddling, uncoordinated gait and abnormal limb positioning when stationary. In addition, they exhibit scoliosis, ptosis, and a prominent resting tremor. They display behavioral abnormalities consistent with animal models of mental illness, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, that are rescued by the antipsychotic medications used to treat these disorders. Heterozygous animals are indistinguishable from wildtype.

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The Egr3- null allele has a neo cassette replacing a 0.9 kb region of the Egr3 gene encoding the zinc-finger domain and C-terminus of the protein. These mice may be useful for studying the role of EGR3 in the onset of psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.