Inducible targeting of CNS astrocytes in Aldh1l1-CreERT2 BAC transgenic mice.
Background:Studying astrocytes in higher brain functions has been hampered by the lack of genetic tools for the efficient expression of inducible Cre recombinase throughout the CNS, including the neocortex.Methods:Therefore, we generated BAC transgenic mice, in which CreERT2 is expressed under control of theAldh1l1regulatory region.Results:When crossbred to Cre reporter mice, adult Aldh1l1-CreERT2 mice show efficient gene targeting in astrocytes. No such Cre-mediated recombination was detectable in CNS neurons, oligodendrocytes, and microglia. As expected, Aldh1l1-CreERT2 expression was evident in several peripheral organs, including liver and kidney.Conclusions:Taken together, Aldh1l1-CreERT2 mice are a useful tool for studying astrocytes in neurovascular coupling, brain metabolism, synaptic plasticity and other aspects of neuron-glia interactions.
Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.
Jan
J
Winchenbach
Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.
Tim
0000-0002-4347-7648
T
Düking
Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.
Stefan A
SA
Berghoff
Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.
Sina K
SK
Stumpf
Clinic for Anesthesiology, Research Group Central Respiratory Control, University Medical Center Göttingen, Experimental Neuroanesthesiology, Göttingen, Germany; Center Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Göttingen, Germany.
Swen
S
Hülsmann
Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany; Center Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Göttingen, Germany.
Klaus-Armin
0000-0001-8724-9666
KA
Nave
Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.
Gesine
0000-0003-3507-9604
G
Saher
Astrocyte; Bergman glia; inducible Cre recombinase; neuroscience; tamoxifen