B6.129(SJL)-Oxtr^tm1.1Wsy/J

Stock number: 008471
Product name: Oxtr^flox
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

Mice homozygous for the Oxtr^flox targeted allele harbor loxP sites flanking exons 2-3 of the oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) gene, and may be used for spatial and temporal inactivation of the oxytocin receptor in studying parturition and lactation, as well as social, behavioral, and learning disorders such as autism and anxiety.

Detailed description

Mice homozygous for the Oxtr^flox allele are viable and fertile, with loxP sites flanking exons 2-3 of the targeted gene. Expression and receptor binding distributions from the Oxtr^flox targeted allele are reported to be normal when compared to wild-type. When Oxtr^flox mice are bred to mice that express Cre recombinase, the resulting offspring will have the floxed region deleted in the cre-expressing tissue(s). These Oxtr^flox mice may be used for spatial and temporal inactivation of the oxytocin receptor in studying (for example) parturition and lactation, as well as social, behavioral, and learning disorders such as autism and anxiety.

These Oxtr^flox mice may also be useful along with the Oxt/EGFP AI03 transgenic mice (Stock No. 006043) or oxytocin targeted mutant mice (Stock No. 002713) from the same donating investigator.

Development

A targeting vector was designed to place a frt-flanked PGK-Neo cassette followed by a loxP site within intron 1, and a second loxP site within intron 3 of the targeted gene. The targeting construct was electroporated into (129X1/SvJ x 129S1/Sv)F1-derived R1 embryonic stem (ES) cells, and ES cells were injected into recipient blastocysts to generate chimeric mice. The donating investigator reports that chimeric mice were bred to C57BL/6 to establish Oxtr^Neo mutant mice. To remove the selection cassette, these Oxtr^Neo mice were bred to FLPe-expressing mice (on a B6;SJL genetic background, see Stock No. 003800). The donating investigator reported that the resulting Oxtr^flox offspring (with a single frt site remaining upstream of the loxP-flanked exons 2-3) were then selectively bred to remove the transgene by backcrossing to C57BL/6J inbred mice for at least 10 generations (see SNP note below) prior to arrival at The Jackson Laboratory. Upon arrival, mice were bred to C57BL/6J for at least one generation to establish the colony.

A 32 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) panel analysis, with 27 markers covering all 19 chromosomes and the X chromosome, as well as 5 markers that distinguish between the C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N substrains, was performed on the rederived living colony at The Jackson Laboratory Repository. While the 27 markers throughout the genome suggested a C57BL/6 genetic background, 2 of 5 markers that determine C57BL/6J from C57BL/6N were found to be segregating. These data suggest the mice sent to The Jackson Laboratory Repository were on a mixed C57BL/6J ; C57BL/6N genetic background.

Allele

Symbol: Oxtr^tm1.1Wsy
Name: targeted mutation 1.1, W Scott Young III
MGI accession ID: MGI:3800791
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Conditional ready (e.g. floxed); No functional change
Marker symbol: Oxtr
Marker name: oxytocin receptor
Chromosome: 6
Strain of origin: (129X1/SvJ x 129S1/Sv)F1-Kitl⁺
Molecular note: Germ line, flp-mediated recombination was used to remove the neo cassette leaving exons 2 and 3 floxed. Autoradiography confirmed wild-type protein expression.