These opsin-Cre transgenic mice express Cre recombinase under the direction of the 4.1 kb ("long") mouse Rho, rhodopsin, gene promoter. Rod cells comprise 97% of the photoreceptors in mouse retina. Cre expression is detected in retinas from 7 to 15-day-old mice by reverse transcription (RT)- PCR. The mice were genotyped to confirm absence of the Pde6brd1 allele. Mice that are hemizygous for the transgene are viable and fertile. The Donating Investigator expects homozygotes to be viable and fertile. However, homozygous viability/fertility has not been tested (January 2019). When crossed to a beta-galactosidase expressing reporter strain (R26R reporter mice on the C57BL/6 background), Cre recombinase activity was detected mostly in perinuclear cytoplasm and the membrane of the rod photoreceptor nuclei cells of the retina. Onset of Cre recombinase activity is at postnatal day 7 (P7). No Cre recombinase expression is detected in brain, heart, liver, muscle, kidney, or spleen. Transgene expression in adult (8 month old) transgenic mice (also carrying the reporter allele) does not alter rod photoreceptor cell number or distribution and electroretinography (ERG) characteristics.

LMOP-cre mice express Cre recombinase under the control of the retinal rod cell specific mouse gene promoter, rhodopsin (Rho). They are suitable for Cre-lox studies of rod photoreceptors.

Typically mice are recovered in 12-16 weeks. Contact Customer Service to place an order or for more information.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.jax.org/jax-mice-and-services/customer-support" rel="noreferrer">Contact Customer Service</a> for more information.