| abstract |
recombinant non-human mammal, cell, cell culture, method of screening a compound for cholinergic activity or activity in the treatment of a cholinergic neltrotransmission disorder, and use of a mammal. Recombinant non-human mammals having little or no expression of vesicular acetylcholine (vachi) transporter protein as compared to the corresponding wild-type mammal are provided. the mammal may have, for example, impaired object and social recognition performance and / or impaired neuromuscular performance and / or changes in autonomic nervous system function as compared to the corresponding wild type mammal. Methods of screening a compound for cholinergic activity or activity in the treatment of a cholinergic neurotransmission disorder are also provided. In addition, a cell such as a mammalian isolated nerve cell as described herein is also provided, along with cell cultures, which are usable in vitro to screen the activity of candidate compounds for their effect on cholinergic neurotransmission, and to its activity in the treatment of cholinergic neurotransmission disorders. |