Tamoxifen-inducible Cre-recombination in articular chondrocytes of adult Col2a1-CreER(T2) transgenic mice.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the specificity and efficiency of the tamoxifen (TM)-induced Cre-recombination in articular chondrocytes of adult Col2a1-CreER(T2) transgenic mice.


METHODS
Col2a1-CreER(T2) transgenic mice were bred with Rosa26 reporter mice. Two-week-old Col2a1-CreER(T2);R26R mice were administered TM for 5 days and were sacrificed 1 and 6 months after TM induction. X-Gal staining was performed.


RESULTS
Efficient Cre-recombination is achieved in adult articular chondrocytes 1 and 6 months after TM induction.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrate that the Col2a1-CreER(T2) transgenic mouse model is a valuable tool to target genes specifically expressed in articular chondrocytes in a temporally controlled manner in adult mice.
Zhu
M
M
Department of Orthopaedics, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
Chen
M
M
Lichtler
A C
AC
O'Keefe
R J
RJ
Chen
D
D
D000818:Animals; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000201:enzymology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D019426:Integrases / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology*
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D013629:Tamoxifen; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases