Application of antisense DNA method for the study of molecular bases of brain function and behavior

Abstract
The antisense DNA method has been used successfully not onlyin vitro but also within vivo systems to block effectively the expression of specific genes. An increasing number of studies have shown that antisense DNA administered directly into the brain can modify various kinds of behaviors. These findings strongly suggest that the antisense DNA method can be widely used as a powerful tool for the study of the molecular bases of behavior. In addition to traditional methods of behavioral genetics, the antisense DNA method may provide a new approach for the study of the effects of gene in behavioral function. In this article, we review recent studies reportingin vivo effects of antisense DNA on brain function and behavior.