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Genetic labelling of specific axonal pathways in the mouse central nervous system
Author(s) -
Zubair Mohamad,
Watanabe Eiji,
Fukada Masahide,
Noda Masaharu
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2002.01911.x
Subject(s) - biology , transgene , reporter gene , axon , neuroscience , sensory system , central nervous system , nervous system , transcription factor , microbiology and biotechnology , axon guidance , gene , genetics , gene expression
We report on transgenic mouse lines in which several sensory systems in the brain are specifically visualized genetically. We employed GAP‐lacZ as an axon‐targeted reporter protein that was constructed by fusing the membrane‐anchoring domain of the GAP‐43 protein to lacZ. The reporter gene was introduced into the genome under the control of a promoter element of Brn3b transcription factor to establish transgenic mouse lines. The individual lines thus generated afforded clear images of specific axonal pathways of the visual, vomeronasal, pontocerebellar, and auditory systems. The reporter protein labelled the entire axonal process as well as the cell body of developing and mature neurons on staining with X‐gal. We show that these lines facilitate the developmental and anatomical study of these neural systems. This strategy should be applicable to a variety of neural systems by using various specific promoter elements.