Slc32a1tm2(cre)Lowl knock-in mice (commonly referred to as Vgat-ires-Cre mice) have Cre recombinase expression directed to inhibitory GABAergic neuron cell bodies, without disrupting endogenous vesicular inhibitory amino acid transporter expression. Both heterozygous and homozygous mice are viable and fertile with no gross physical abnormalities. Specifically, Cre recombinase activity is detected in inhibitory GABAergic neuron cell bodies in the caudate putamen, suprachiasmatic nucleus, central amygdaloid nucleus, and zona incerta, nucleus accumbens, lateral septum, medial septum, reticular nucleus of the thalamus, substantia nigra pars reticulata, and Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum.
When crossed with a strain containing loxP site-flanked sequences, Cre-mediated recombination results in tissue-specific deletion of flanked sequences in the offspring.
Of note, the targeted Slc32a1 gene is located ~3.5 kbp (~1.9 cM) from the nonagouti locus (A). These C57BL/6;FVB;129S6 Vgat-ires-Cre knock-in mice have agouti coat color; presumably due to the presence of 129S6-derived Aw allele (from the ES cells used in creating the Vgat-ires-Cre allele).
