FVB/N-Tg(Gnrhr-luc/EGFP)L8Mrln/J

Stock number: 027665
Product name: Glowing Head on FVB
Strain synonyms: GH mice
Research areas: Cancer Research, Research Tools

Description

These Glowing Head transgenic mice are immunologically tolerant to firefly luciferase and Enhanced Green Fluorescent protein, and can be used as a host for labeled syngeneic tumor transplantation.

Detailed description

These “Glowing Head” (GH) transgenic mice express the ffLuc-eGFP (firefly luciferase-Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein) fusion gene under the control of the rat growth hormone gene promoter. Transgene expression is targeted to the non-immune privileged anterior pituitary and does not interfere with pituitary function, as assessed by serum growth hormone levels. Bioluminescence is detected in the head and testes by in vivo imaging. Antigenicity of xenobiotic makers, including luciferase and GFP, causes decrease in both the growth and metastatic potential of the labeled tumor in immunocompetent mice. These transgenic mice are immune-tolerant to firefly luciferase and Enhanced Green Fluorescent protein, and can be used as an allograft recipient for labeled syngeneic tumor transplantation, avoiding the effects of xenobiotic/antigenic reporters on testing therapeutic agents. Metastases originating from transplanted ffLuc-eGFP-labeled cancer cells or tumors are increased in GH mice compared to similarly treated wildtype controls and BALB/c background NOD/SCID mice (see Stock No. 017619).

Mice that are homozygous for the transgene are viable and fertile. Homozygous mice may have a two-fold increase in head bioluminescence intensity.

This “Glowing Head” transgenic is also available on a C57BL/6 genetic background: Stock No. 027662, and a BALB/c background: Stock No. 027848.

Development

A transgenic construct containing the ffLuc-eGFP (firefly luciferase-Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein) fusion gene under the control of the rat growth hormone gene promoter was injected into FVB/N blastocysts. Founder line L8 animals were maintained on a FVB/N background. Upon arrival at The Jackson Laboratory, the mice were crossed to FVB/NJ (Stock No. 001800) at least once to establish the colony.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Gnrhr-luc/EGFP)L8Mrln
Name: transgene insertion L8, Glenn Merlino
MGI accession ID: MGI:5641258
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Reporter
Marker symbol: Tg(Gnrhr-luc/EGFP)L8Mrln
Marker name: transgene insertion L8, Glenn Merlino
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: FVB/N
Expressed genes: luc,luciferase,firefly; GFP,Green Fluorescent Protein,
Site of expression: The firefly luciferase-eGFP fusion gene is expressed in the anterior pituitary gland and testes.
Molecular note: The transgenic construct contains a firefly luciferase (ffLuc)-eGFP fusion gene under the control of the rat growth hormone gene promoter and human growth hormone sequences. Reporter activity (by bioluminescent imaging) is detected in the anterior pituitary gland and testes.