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Tyrosinase‐Cre mice for tissue‐specific gene ablation in neural crest and neuroepithelial‐derived tissues
Author(s) -
Tonks Ian D.,
Nurcombe Victor,
Paterson Carol,
Zournazi Anna,
Prather Catherine,
Mould Arne W.,
Kay Graham F.
Publication year - 2003
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/gene.10242
Subject(s) - biology , neural crest , neuroepithelial cell , fate mapping , anatomy , cre recombinase , forebrain , olfactory bulb , microbiology and biotechnology , cerebellum , cranial neural crest , transgene , genetically modified mouse , central nervous system , neuroscience , neural stem cell , embryo , stem cell , gene , progenitor cell , genetics
Abstract This study describes the derivation of two new lines of transgenic mice that express Cre recombinase under the control of tyrosinase transcriptional elements. To determine the suitability of the Tyrosinase‐Cre transgene for tissue‐specific gene ablation studies, a fate map of Cre expression domains was determined using the Z/AP reporter strain. It was shown that Cre ‐expressing cells contribute to a wide array of neural crest and neuroepithelial‐derived lineages. The melanocytes of the harderian gland and eye choroid, sympathetic cephalic ganglia, leptomeninges of the telencephalon, as well as cranial nerves (V), (VII), and (IX) are derived either fully or partly from Cre ‐expressing cephalic crest. The cells contributing to the cranial nerves were the first to exhibit Cre expression at E10.5 as they were migrating into the branchial arches. The melanocytes, chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla, and dorsal root ganglia are derived from trunk neural crest that either express Cre or were derived from Cre ‐expressing precursors. An array of brain tissue including the basal forebrain, hippocampus, olfactory bulb, and the granule cell layer of the lateral cerebellum, as well as the retinal pigmented epithelium and glia of the optic nerve originate from Cre ‐expressing neuroepithelial cells. genesis 37:131–138, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.