Transgenic modeling of neuropsychiatric disorders

Converging advances in the fields of molecular biology, molecular genetics, cellular biology and embryology have given researchers the tools for the targeted delivery and stable germline transmission of foreign genes (transgenes) in the mouse. In the realm of neuropsychiatry, this so-named transgenic technology has begun to catapult our knowledge of the genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms in the brain that are linked to a variety of mental disorders as well as normal behavioral processes such as learning and memory. Moreover, the potential for transgenic technology to develop more precise animal models of specific human neuropsychiatric disorders will likely lead to the identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention and facilitate the preclinical testing of new therapeutic agents. This article examines key issues and highlights recent developments pertaining to the transgenic modeling of neuropsychiatric disorders.