Strain Detail Sheet
Homozygous: Homozygous NET-/- mice are viable and fertile and showed reduced body temperature (approx1°C) and body weight (approx20%) relative to wild-type controls. In the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum, tissue concentrations of NE were reduced by approximately 55−70% in the NET-/- mice.
Hetero/Hemizygous: not reported
The Norepinephrine transporter (NET) KO mice are phenotypically distinguishable from any other gene knockouts that altered the levels of norepinephrine in tissues. Specifically, inactivation of the NET selectively leads to increased levels of extracellular norepinephrine (NE) by inhibiting the reuptake or clearance of Norepinephrine from the extracellular space. Behaviorally, the NET KO mice are significantly less immobile in the swim test, display increased struggling behavior in the tail suspension test, and in the same tail suspension test their struggling behavior matches that of wild type mice treated with small molecule inhibitors of NET, serotonin or dopamine transporters (SERT and DAT). In the open field, NETKO mice are slightly less active and also habituate slightly faster to the novel environment. When challenged with the psychostimulants cocaine or amphetamine, NETKO mice show an exaggerated open field locomotor response. In a cocaine sensitization paradigm, NETKO mice are as active on the first exposure to cocaine as wild type mice are following a 5day exposure to cocaine. In the Place-Preference paradigm NETKO show an exaggerated preference for the cocaine side compared to WT mice treated for six consecutive days. Interestingly, ablation of the NET gene seems to influence striatal dopaminergic homeostasis by reducing the extracellular levels of dopamine and its degradation products but enhancing both the sensitivity and the behavioral responses to D2/D3 agonists. NETKO mice have also been used to probe fro gastrointestinal and cardiovascular phenotypes. Results of these studies can be found by a simple literature search.
Allelic Composition: (Genetic Background: )- behavior/neurological
- enhanced behavioral response to addictive substance [] [PMID:10769386] (J:61825)
- enhanced behavioral response to cocaine [] [PMID:10769386] (J:61825)
- abnormal emotion/affect behavior [] [PMID:10769386] (J:61825)
- growth/size/body
- decreased body weight [] [PMID:10769386] (J:61825)
- homeostasis/metabolism
- decreased body temperature [] [PMID:10769386] (J:61825)
- increased physiological sensitivity to xenobiotic [] [PMID:10769386] (J:61825)
- nervous system
- abnormal nervous system physiology [] [PMID:10769386] (J:61825)
- Neurobiology
- Research Tools
Colony Surveillance Program and Current Health Reports
Mice recovered from a cryo-archive will have health surveillance performed on recipient females. Health reports will be provided prior to shipment. If you require additional health status information, please email mmrrc_health@med.unc.edu.| Viability and Fertility: | Female | Male | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homozygotes are viable: | Yes | Yes | |
| Homozygotes are fertile: | Reduced | Reduced | |
| Heterozygotes are fertile: | Yes | Yes | |
| Age Reproductive Decline: | 4 to 6 months | 4 to 6 months |
Limited quantities of breeder mice (recovered litter) are available from a cryoarchive; recovered litter usually available to ship in 3 to 4 months.
Cryopreserved material may be available upon request, please inquire to mmrrc@med.unc.edu for more information.
Distribution of this strain requires submission of the MMRRC Conditions of Use (COU). A link to the COU web form will be provided via email after an order has been placed; the form should be completed then or the email forwarded to your institutional official for completion.
The donor or their institution limits the distribution to non-profit institutions only.
Additional charges may apply for any special requests. Shipping costs are in addition to the basic distribution/resuscitation fees. Information on shipping costs and any additional charges will be provided by the supplying MMRRC facility.
| MMRRC Item # | Description | Distribution Fee / Unit (US $) *Shipping & Handling not included* |
Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 043613-UNC-EMBRYO | Cryo-preserved embryos | $1,488.00 / Non-Profit | Aliquot | Approximate quantity2 : 20-40 embryos / aliquot |
| 043613-UNC-SPERM | Cryo-preserved spermatozoa | $520.00 / Non-Profit | Aliquot | Approximate quantity3 |
| 043613-UNC-RESUS | Litter recovered from cryo-archive | $3,088.00 / Non-Profit | Litter | Recovered litter4; additional fees for any special requests. |
1 The distribution fee covers the expense of rederiving mice from a live mouse; you will receive the resulting litter. The litter will contain at minimum one mutant carrier; the actual number of animals and the gender and genotype ratios will vary. (Typically, multiple breeder pairs can be established from the recovered litter.) Prior to shipment, the MMRRC will provide information about the animals recovered. If you anticipate or find that you need to request specific genotypes, genders or quantities of mice in excess of what is likely from a resuscitated litter, you may discuss available options and pricing with the supplying MMRRC facility.
2 An aliquot contains a sufficient number of embryos (in one or more vials or straws and based on the transfer success rate of the MMRRC facility) to transfer into one to three recipients. The MMRRC makes no guarantee concerning embryo transfer success experienced in the recipient investigator's laboratory. Neither gender nor genotype ratios are guaranteed.
3 An aliquot is one straw or vial with sufficient sperm to recover at least one litter of mice, as per provided protocols, when performed at the MMRRC facility. The MMRRC makes no guarantee concerning the success of these procedures when performed outside the MMRRC facilities.
4 The distribution fee covers the expense of resuscitating mice from the cryo-archive; you will receive the resulting litter. The litter will contain at minimum one mutant carrier; the actual number of animals and the gender and genotype ratios will vary. (Typically, multiple breeder pairs can be established from the recovered litter.) Prior to shipment, the MMRRC will provide information about the animals recovered. If you anticipate or find that you need to request specific genotypes, genders or quantities of mice in excess of what is likely from a resuscitated litter, you may discuss available options and pricing with the supplying MMRRC facility.