Densinflox mice possess loxP sites flanking exon 3, a region encoding the transcriptional start site of the leucine rich repeat containing 7 (Lrrc7) gene. Lrrc7 encodes the scaffolding protein densin, which is involved in cell adhesion and polarity. Densin is expressed in the postsynaptic density (PSD) of the central nervous system (CNS), with some expression also seen in glomerular podocytes and sertoli cells. Homozygous mice are viable, fertile, and normal in size. When these mutant mice are bred to mice that express Cre recombinase, resulting offspring will have exon 3 deleted in cre-expressing tissues.
When crossed to B6.FVB-Tg(EIIa-cre)C5379Lmgd/J mice (Stock No. 003724) with ubiquitous Cre recombinase expression, the surviving KO mice have deficits in short-term memory, spatial memory, prepulse inhibition, and nesting behavior similar to behaviors seen in mice with schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder phenotypes. These densin KO mice are more anxious than wildtype mice, and males show increased aggression. Their neurons exhibit impairment of long-term depression, and alterations in glutamate receptor dynamics and spine morphology.
