Transgenic mice engineered to target Cre/loxP-mediated DNA recombination into catecholaminergic neurons.

Genesis

Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas and Departmento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Published: August 2003

To introduce restricted DNA recombination events into catecholaminergic neurons using the Cre/loxP technology, we generated transgenic mice carrying the Cre recombinase gene driven by a 9 kb rat tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) promoter. Immunohistochemistry performed on transgenic mouse brain sections revealed a high number of cells expressing Cre in areas where TH is normally expressed, including the olfactory bulb, hypothalamic and midbrain dopaminergic neurons, and the locus coeruleus. Double immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence indicated that colocalization of TH and Cre is greater than 80%. Cre expression was also found in TH-positive amacrine neurons of the retina, chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla, and sympathetic ganglia. We crossbred TH-Cre mice with the floxed reporter strain Z/AP and observed efficient Cre-mediated recombination in all areas expressing TH, indicating that transgenic Cre is functional. Therefore, we have generated a valuable transgenic mouse strain to induce specific mutations of "floxed" genes in catecholaminergic neurons.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/gene.10217DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

catecholaminergic neurons
12
transgenic mice
8
dna recombination
8
transgenic mouse
8
transgenic
5
neurons
5
cre
5
mice engineered
4
engineered target
4
target cre/loxp-mediated
4

Similar Publications

Paraquat neurotoxicity: Oxidative stress and neuronal dysfunction in the ascidian brain.

Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol

January 2025

Laboratório Integrado de Biociências Translacionais - Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade - NUPEM - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, Macaé, RJ, Brazil; Pós-Graduação em Produtos Bioativos e Biociências - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, Macaé, RJ, Brazil; Pós-Graduação Multicêntrico em Ciências Fisiológicas - Instituto de Biodiversidade e Sustentabilidade - NUPEM - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Pós-Graduação em Biociências e Biotecnologia - Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro - UENF - Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address:

Paraquat (PQ) is a widely used herbicide; however, it has been linked to various diseases, including an increased risk of developing Parkinsonism. To study this, invertebrates such as ascidians have been used. They have a simple nervous system and are considered an emerging model for the study of neurodegenerative diseases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The immune system shapes body metabolism, while interactions between peripheral neurons and immune cells control tissue homeostasis and immunity. However, whether peripheral neuroimmune interactions orchestrate endocrine system functions remains unexplored. After fasting, mice lacking type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) displayed disrupted glucose homeostasis, impaired pancreatic glucagon secretion, and inefficient hepatic gluconeogenesis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Norepinephrine in vertebrates and its invertebrate analog, octopamine, regulate the activity of neural circuits. We find that, when hungry, larvae switch activity in type II octopaminergic motor neurons (MNs) to high-frequency bursts, which coincide with locomotion-driving bursts in type I glutamatergic MNs that converge on the same muscles. Optical quantal analysis across hundreds of synapses simultaneously reveals that octopamine potentiates glutamate release by tonic type Ib MNs, but not phasic type Is MNs, and occurs via the G-coupled octopamine receptor (OAMB).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Neural precursor cells contain two types of intermediate filaments (IFs): neurofilaments consisting of three IV type proteins and vimentin belonging to the type III IF proteins that disappear at the later stages of differentiation. The involvement of vimentin in neurogenesis was demonstrated earlier; however, the role of its temporary expression in neurons is not clear. We showed that the vimentin IFs that interacted with mitochondria maintained their membrane potential at the appropriate level, and thus, ensured their proper function.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Catecholaminergic dysfunction drives postural and locomotor deficits in a mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy.

Cell Rep

January 2025

Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Understanding posture is crucial for how mammals move, and dysregulation of certain brain chemicals, specifically dopamine and noradrenaline, can lead to motor problems in diseases like spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
  • Research using a mouse model of SMA revealed that the loss of synapses in the spinal neurons, caused by non-cell autonomous mechanisms, contributes to motor dysfunction and postural issues.
  • Restoring a specific protein (survival motor neuron) in either catecholaminergic or serotonergic neurons can improve movement, but significant postural issues only improve with restoration in both neuron types or treatment with l-dopa, highlighting new potential treatment strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!