B6.Cg-Tg(GH1-cre)1Sac/J

Stock number: 009642
Research areas: Research Tools

Description

Cre recombinase expression is seen during development and in the adult in pituitary somatotropes. Weaker expression is detected in lactotropes. Cre expression is detected in the forelimb skin of embryos aged embryonic day 16.5-17.5 with weaker expression in adult kidney, ovary, and testis. This strain represents an effective tool for generating tissue specific-targeted mutants that would be useful for studying developmentally critical gene function in the anterior pituitary.

Detailed description

These transgenic mice express Cre recombinase under the control of the human Growth Hormone (GH1) Locus Control Region and the rat growth hormone 1, (Gh1) promoter. When crossed with a reporter strain, Cre recombinase expression is seen during development and in the adult in pituitary somatotropes. Weaker expression is detected in lactotropes. Cre expression is detected in the forelimb skin of embryos aged embryonic day 16.5-17.5, and weaker expression in adult kidney, ovary, and testis. Southern blot analysis reveals approximately 50 copies or the transgene segregated to one locus. Mice hemizygous for the transgenic insert are viable, fertile, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. The Donating Investigator has not attempted to make the strain homozygous. This strain represents an effective tool for generating tissue specific-targeted mutants that would be useful to study developmentally critical gene function in the anterior pituitary.

Development

A transgenic construct containing sequence encoding Cre recombinase under the control of the human Growth Hormone (GH1) Locus Control Region and the rat growth hormone 1, (Gh1), promoter was introduced into (C57BL/6J x SJL)F1 donor eggs. Founder animals were bred to wild-type C57BL/6J. The mice were bred to a conditional (floxed) mutation strain on the 129 background and then bred to C57BL/6J for several generations to remove the floxed allele. There may be residual 129 genetic background contribution. The Donating Investigator has not attempted to make this strain homozygous.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(GH1-cre)1Sac
Name: transgene insertion 1, Sally A Camper
MGI accession ID: MGI:3833232
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing
Marker symbol: Tg(GH1-cre)1Sac
Marker name: transgene insertion 1, Sally A Camper
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: (C57BL/6J x SJL/J)F2
Expressed genes: cre,cre recombinase,bacteriophage P1
Site of expression: When crossed with cre-reporter strains, cre expression is observed in the pituitary somatotropes, with limited expression in lactotropes, and no detectable expression in other pituitary cell types. Cre expression is also detected in the skin of embryonic forelimbs and trunk, and in adult testis, ovary, and kidney.
Molecular note: The human growth hormone locus control region (-16.2 to -14.6 kb relative to the GH1 promoter) was fused to 1.77 kb of rat Gh1 promoter to drive expression of a cre recombinase cassette in the pituitary gland. About 30-50 copies of the transgene construct inserted into the genome after injection into zygotes. When crossed with cre-reporter strains, cre expression was observed in the pituitary somatotropes, with limited expression in lactotropes, and no detectable expression in other pituitary cell types. Cre expression was also detected in the skin of embryonic forelimbs and trunk, and in adult testis, ovary, and kidney.