Primary spermatocyte-specific Cre recombinase activity in transgenic mice.
We have evaluated the specificity of Cre recombinase activity in transgenic mice expressing Cre under the control of the synatonemal complex protein 1 (Sycp1) gene promoter. Sycp1Cre mice were crossed with the ROSA26 reporter line R26R, to monitor the male germ cell stage-specificity of Cre activity as well as to verify that Cre was not active previously during development of other tissues. X-gal staining detected Cre-mediated recombination only in testis. Detailed histological examination indicated that weak Cre-mediated recombination occurred as early as in zygotene spermatocytes at stage XI of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. Robust expression of X-gal was detected in early to mid-late spermatocytes at stages V-VIII. We conclude that this transgenic line is a powerful tool for deleting genes of interest specifically during male meiosis.
Chung
Sanny S W
SS
Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Cuzin
François
F
Rassoulzadegan
Minoo
M
Wolgemuth
Debra J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005697:Galactosides; D015870:Gene Expression; D006652:Histological Techniques; D007211:Indoles; D019426:Integrases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000378:metabolism*; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005697:Galactosides; D007211:Indoles; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C489754:Sycp1 protein, mouse; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases; C044888:5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl beta-galactoside