Hemizygous A930038C07Rik-Tg1-Cre mice are viable and fertile, with Cre recombinase expression directed by the epidermacan (A930038C07Rik) promoter/enhancer regions within the BAC transgene. When A930038C07Rik-Tg1-Cre mice are bred with mice containing loxP-flanked sequences, Cre-mediated recombination will result in deletion of the floxed sequences in the epidermacan-expressing cells of the double mutant offspring. Specifically, the donating investigator reports Cre recombinase activity/cre expression (via in situ hybridization to Cre recombinase) in adult mice as specific and unique to deep layer 5 (Layer 5B) cortical cells corresponding to thick-tufted pyramidal neurons. When crossing to a Cre-reporter line, reporter gene expression appears to be much more widespread (presumably due to more widespread cre expression during development). These other regions include scattered cells in main olfactory bulb, anterior olfactory nucleus, taenia tecta, piriform areas, lateral septal nuclei, and inferior olivary nucleus. The donating investigators may not have assessed expression in tissues other than brain. The phenotype of homozygous mice has not yet been characterized (October 2011).
Of note, these mice from founder line 1 (A930038C07Rik-Tg1-Cre; Stock No. 017346) have a much more specific expression pattern compared to mice from founder line 4 (A930038C07Rik-Tg4-Cre; see Stock No. 009616).
For characterization information of founder line 1, see images at the Allen Institute for Brain Science website (A930038C07Rik-Tg1-Cre images).
