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Targeted insertion of the Cre‐recombinase gene at the phenylethanolamine n‐methyltransferase locus: A new model for studying the developmental distribution of adrenergic cells
Author(s) -
Ebert Steven N.,
Rong Qi,
Boe Steven,
Thompson Robert P.,
Grinberg Alexander,
Pfeifer Karl
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.20188
Subject(s) - phenylethanolamine n methyltransferase , phenylethanolamine , cre recombinase , biology , epinephrine , locus (genetics) , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , gene , transgene , endocrinology , genetically modified mouse , genetics , tyrosine hydroxylase , dopamine
To evaluate the developmental distribution of adrenergic cells in vivo, we inserted the Cre‐recombinase gene into the locus encoding for the epinephrine biosynthetic enzyme phenylethanolamine n‐methyltransferase (Pnmt) and crossed these Pnmt‐Cre mice with ROSA26 reporter (R26R) mice to activate LacZ (encoding β‐galactosidase) expression in cells that were selectively derived from the adrenergic lineage. Our data show the following: (1) Insertion of Cre‐recombinase into the Pnmt locus created a functional knockout of Pnmt expression with concomitant loss of epinephrine in homozygous Pnmt Cre/Cre mice; (2) Despite the reduction in Pnmt expression and epinephrine production in Pnmt Cre/Cre mice, these mice were viable and fertile, with no apparent developmental defects; (3) When crossed with R26R mice, Pnmt‐Cre activation of LacZ expression faithfully recapitulated Pnmt expression in vivo; and (4) LacZ expression was activated in substantial numbers of pacemaking, conduction, and working cardiomyocytes. Developmental Dynamics 231:849–858, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.