Transgenic animal model for testing drugs for treating eating disorders

Abstract

A transgenic, non-human animal model is disclosed which lacks receptors which mediate some of the central nervous system (CNS) actions of serotonin. The animal is preferably from a genus selected from the group consisting of Mus (e.g., mice), Rattus (e.g., rats), Oryctologus (e.g., rabbits) and Mesocricetus (e.g., hamsters). More preferably the animal is a mouse which lacks 5HT.sub.2c receptors. Animals lacking such receptors are overweight due to abnormal control of feeding behavior and are prone to spontaneous death from seizures. Thus, such animals provide an animal model for the testing of drugs which are potentially useful in the treatment of eating disorders and diseases such as epilepsy which result in seizures.