An Fgfr3-iCreER(T2) transgenic mouse line for studies of neural stem cells and astrocytes.
The lack of markers for astrocytes, particularly gray matter astrocytes, significantly hinders research into their development and physiological properties. We previously reported that fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (Fgfr3) is expressed by radial precursors in the ventricular zone of the embryonic neural tube and subsequently by differentiated astrocytes in gray and white matter. Here, we describe an Fgfr3-iCreER(T2) phage artificial chromosome transgenic mouse line that allows efficient tamoxifen-induced Cre recombination in Fgfr3-expressing cells, including radial glial cells in the embryonic neural tube and both fibrous and protoplasmic astrocytes in the mature central nervous system. This mouse strain will therefore be useful for studies of normal astrocyte biology and their responses to CNS injury or disease. In addition, Fgfr3-iCreER(T2) drives Cre recombination in all neurosphere-forming stem cells in the adult spinal cord and at least 90% of those in the adult forebrain subventricular zone. We made use of this to show that there is continuous accumulation of all major interneuron subtypes in the olfactory bulb (OB) from postnatal day 50 (P50) until at least P230 ( approximately 8 months of age). It therefore seems likely that adult-born interneurons integrate into existing circuitry and perform long-term functions in the adult OB.
The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
Kaylene M
KM
Young
Tomoyuki
T
Mitsumori
Nigel
N
Pringle
Matthew
M
Grist
Nicoletta
N
Kessaris
William D
WD
Richardson
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000166:cytology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology; D000076104:Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4
D000941:Antigens; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D019426:Integrases; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000076104:Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4; C512773:Olig2 protein, mouse; C496349:Fgfr1 protein, mouse; C045073:Cre recombinase