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Cre recombinase activity specific to postnatal, premeiotic male germ cells in transgenic mice
Author(s) -
SadateNgatchou Patricia I.,
Payne Christopher J.,
Dearth Andrea T.,
Braun Robert E.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/dvg.20437
Subject(s) - biology , cre recombinase , transgene , germ cell , germline , green fluorescent protein , offspring , genetically modified mouse , microbiology and biotechnology , spermatogenesis , somatic cell , genetics , gene , endocrinology , pregnancy
We have generated a transgenic mouse line,Tg(Stra8‐cre)1Reb (Stra8‐cre), which expresses improved Cre recombinase under the control of a 1.4 Kb promoter region of the germ cell‐specific stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 ( Stra8 ). cre is expressed only in males beginning at postnatal day (P)3 in early‐stage spermatogonia and is detected through preleptotene‐stage spermatocytes. To further define when cre becomes active, we crossed Stra8‐cre males with Tg(ACTB‐Bgeo/GFP)21Lbe (Z/EG) reporter females and compared the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) with the protein encoded by the zinc finger and BTB domain containing 16 ( Zbtb16 ) gene, PLZF—a marker for undifferentiated spermatogonia. Co‐expression of EGFP is observed in the majority of PLZF+ cells. We also tested recombination efficiency by mating Stra8‐cre;Z/EG males and females with wild‐type mice and examining EGFP expression in the offspring. Recombination is detected in >95% of Z/EG+ pups born to Stra8‐cre;Z/EG fathers but in none of the offspring born to transgenic mothers, a verification that cre is not functional in females. The postnatal, premeiotic, male germ cell‐specific activity of Stra8‐cre makes this mouse line a unique resource to study testicular germ cell development. genesis 46:738–742, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.