NIH Research Matters September 10, 2007 Gene Linked to
Compulsive Behaviors in Mice By disabling a single gene in mice,
scientists have created animals with symptoms that mimic those
of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The
researchers showed that the abnormal behaviors and brain
functions could be reversed by either restoring a normal version
of the gene in the mouse brain or by giving the animals a
medication commonly used for human OCD. OCD affects an estimated
2.2 million American adults. The disorder is marked by
persistent intrusive thoughts (like an obsession with germs),
repetitive actions (like compulsive hand-washing) and anxiety.
It is typically treated with drugs known as selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medications, however, are
effective for only about half of patients with OCD. In the new
study, reported in the August 23, 2007, issue of Nature, the
scientists used genetic engineering to create mice that lacked
the SAPAP3 gene. SAPAP3 makes a protein that hel