B6.129S1(Cg)-Gdnf^tm1.1Neas/J

Stock number: 014097
Research areas: Neurobiology Research

Description

These Gdnf^flox mutant mice possess loxP sites flanking exon 3 of the glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (Gdnf) gene. This strain may be useful for studying gamma motor neuron function in motor control.

Detailed description

These Gdnf^flox mutant mice possess loxP sites flanking exon 3 of the glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (Gdnf) gene. Mice that are homozygous for this allele are viable, fertile, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. GDNF is expressed in muscle and is required for the development of gamma motor neurons (γMNs). When bred to mice that express tissue-specific Cre recombinase, resulting offspring will have exon 3 deleted in the cre-expressing tissues. When these Gdnf^flox mice are bred to mice carrying a muscle-specific Myf5^Cre tissues (see Stock No. 007893), mutation or muscle-spindle-specific Egr3^Cre mutation, disruption of Gdnf results in a loss of γMNs with preservation of the spindle, sensory innervation, and functional sensorimotor connectivity. This strain may be useful for studying γMN function in motor control.

Development

A targeting vector was designed to insert a loxP site upstream of exon 3 followed and a second loxP site downstream of the 3' untranslated region (URT) of the glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (Gdnf) gene. A frt-flanked neomycin resistance (neo) cassette was placed upstream of the 5' loxP site. The construct was electroporated into 129S1/Sv-Oca2⁺ Tyr⁺ Kitl⁺- derived W9.5 embryonic stem (ES) cells. Correctly targeted ES cells were injected into C57BL/6 blastocysts and resulting chimeric mice were bred. Offspring, carrying this Gdnf allele, were bred with mice carrying the ACTB-FLPe transgene, on a C57BL/6 background, to delete the neo cassette. Progeny were crossed to remove the Flp-expressing transgene, and the resulting Gdnf^flox mice were backcrossed to C57BL/6J for at least 6 generations. Upon arrival at The Jackson Laboratory, mice were bred to C57BL/6J inbred mice (Stock No. 000664) for at least one generation to establish the colony.

Allele

Symbol: Gdnf^tm1.1Neas
Name: targeted mutation 1.1, Neil A Shneider
MGI accession ID: MGI:4456155
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Conditional ready (e.g. floxed); No functional change
Marker symbol: Gdnf
Marker name: glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor
Chromosome: 15
Strain of origin: 129S1/Sv-Oca2⁺ Tyr⁺ Kitl⁺
Molecular note: An frt flanked neo cassette was inserted upstream of a modified exon 3 in which the coding sequence was floxed. Flp mediated recombination removed the neo cassette leaving the coding sequence floxed.