These transgenic mice express the red fluorescent protein, tdTomato, under the direction of the mouse Pvalb gene promoter. Transgene expression is detected in Pvalb-expressing neurons of the brain: somatosensory cortex, motor cortex, entorhinal cortex, striatum, thalamic reticular nucleus, hippocampal CA3 and CA1, and cerebellum. The tdTomato expression pattern is similar to the endogenous Pvalb gene expression pattern in the brain. High levels of tdTomato expression is observed in many brain regions including the neocortex. The source of the Pvalb gene promoter was the BAC clone RP24-306A6 which contains additional 5' sequences than previously generated Pvalb promoters used in transgenic lines (see for example, Stock No. 012355).
Of note, parvalbumin may be expressed in sperm. Use of male Pvalb-tdTomato mice may result in germline tdTomato expression. If tdTomato expression in the male germline is a concern, researchers may consider breeding Pvalb-tdTomato females to non-transgenic males when creating mice for their experiments.
