Given the inconsistencies in the human literature described previously, as well as inconsistent results regarding the functional properties of the Asn40Asp variant in heterologous expression systems, a number of preclinical cellular and animal models have been developed to gain insight into the effect of the Asn40Asp variant in humans using controlled experimental systems. A nonhuman primate ortholog of the Asn40Asp SNP has been identified and 2 mouse models have been generated to address the effects of this polymorphism on phenotypes used to model alcoholism.
