Expression of NR1, NR2A and NR2B NMDA receptor subunits is not altered in the genetically-inbred Balb/c mouse strain with heightened behavioral sensitivity to MK-801, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist.
European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology November 1, 2008 Pin-Yu Perera, Jack H Lichy, John Mastropaolo et al.
The Balb/c mouse strain is more sensitive than other strains to MK-801, a drug that blocks NMDA receptors, showing a higher threshold for seizures and irregular jumping behavior. This sensitivity suggests Balb/c mice may model psychosis-proneness. The study compared protein expression of NMDA receptor subunits in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of Balb/c and NIH Swiss mice but found that differences in these subunits do not explain the behavioral differences.