Mice homozygous for this Fgfr2flox allele possess loxP sites flanking exons 8-10 of the targeted gene and are viable and fertile. When these mutant mice are bred to mice that express Cre recombinase, resulting offspring will have sequences encoding the alternatively spliced Ig domain IIIb, as well as the IIIc and TM domains, deleted in the cre-expressing tissue(s). These Fgfr2-flox mutant mice may be useful in generating conditional mutations to study the role of fibroblast growth factor receptors in vertebrate development; including early embryogenesis, regional specification of the brain, limb morphogenesis, and normal bone, craniofacial, and lens development.
For example, when crossed to a strain expressing Cre recombinase in the central nervous system, especially astrocytes (see Stock No. 004600), this mutant mouse strain may be useful in studies of astroglial migration.
When crossed to a strain expressing Cre recombinase in the neural tube, midbrain and dorsal spinal cord (see Stock No. 009107), this mutant mouse strain may be useful in studies of lacrimal gland development.
