Promoter methylation and tissue-specific transcription of the α7 nicotinic receptor gene, CHRNA7.

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is known to regulate a wide variety of developmental and secretory functions in neural and non-neural tissues. The mechanisms that regulate its transcription in these varied tissues are not well understood. Epigenetic processes may play a role in the tissue-specific regulation of mRNA expression from the α7 nicotinic receptor subunit gene, CHRNA7.

Transcriptional repression of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit gene (CHRNA7) by activating protein-2α (AP-2α).

The CHRNA7 gene, which encodes the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7*nAChR), has been implicated as a candidate gene in schizophrenia. Expression of the α7*nAChR mRNA and protein are reduced in multiple regions of post-mortem brain from patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Transcriptional regulation may therefore be an important mechanism for the regulation of this gene.

Aggressive and mating behaviors in two types of sex reversed mice: XY females and XX males.

Aggressive and mating behaviors were assessed in XX females, XY females, and XY males of the C57BL/6/J/Ei ("C57BL/6" or "B6") strain of mouse. The Y chromosome of the XY females derives from Mus domesticus poschiavinus and the Y chromosome of the XY males derives from Mus musculus. The poschiavinus Y in the C57BL/6 background results in XY mice with either ovaries or ovotestes.

Anti-inflammatory effect of thymoquinone in a mouse model of allergic lung inflammation.

Thymoquinone (TQ), the main active constituent of the volatile oil extracted from Nigella sativa's seeds, has been reported to have an anti-inflammatory and immune stimulatory effect on bronchial asthma and inflammation. However, little is known about the factors and mechanisms underlying these effects. In the present study, we examined the effect of TQ on airway inflammation in a mouse model of allergic asthma.

Conceptual and methodological issues in the genetics of mouse agonistic behavior.

Currently, 36 genes have been reported to affect offensive behavior in male mice. Potentially, these genes could be used to analyze the mechanism of this behavior. But there are methodological flies in this conceptual ointment.

Sexual aggression in mice: effects of male strain and of female estrous state.

We have observed that 50% of FVB/NtacfBR ("FVB") males were aggressive toward females in tests of mating behavior. We decided to gather basic evidence for an effect of genotype on this behavior by testing for strain differences between FVB and C57BL/6J ("B6") male mice. Also, hypotheses developed from theoretical work on sexually coercive behavior suggest there should be a cycling effect on sexually aggressive behavior (Smuts and Smuts, 1993).