Alterations in dopamine signaling are responsible for several psychomotor disorders.
These YAC transgenic mice express Cre recombinase from the mouse Drd1a (dopamine receptor D1) promoter. The spatio-temporal pattern of Cre expression in dopaminoceptive neurons is reported to closely recapitulate that of the endogenous Drd1a gene in embryonic and adult stages, as assessed by immunohistological approaches.
Expression is reported to be prominent in the major projection areas of the dopaminergic system, including the striatum, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercles and prefrontal cortex. Clear but lower expression is seen in layer VI of the cortex. In hippocampus, CA2 and scattered cells in the dentate gyrus express Cre. Several thalamic nuclei and the ventromedian hypothalamic nucleus also express Cre. In retina, robust staining is observed in the inner nuclear layer.
Cre begins to be expressed, albeit at low levels, at E16 in the striosomal neurons of the embryonic striatum.
