First Author | Wattez JS | Year | 2019 |
Journal | Dev Dyn | Volume | 248 |
Issue | 5 | Pages | 363-374 |
PubMed ID | 30843624 | Mgi Jnum | J:276707 |
Mgi Id | MGI:6315990 | Doi | 10.1002/dvdy.21 |
Citation | Wattez JS, et al. (2019) The platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha promoter-directed expression of cre recombinase in mouse placenta. Dev Dyn 248(5):363-374 |
abstractText | BACKGROUND: Numerous pathologies of pregnancy originate from placental dysfunction. It is essential to understand the functions of key genes in the placenta in order to discern the etiology of placental pathologies. A paucity of animal models that allow conditional and inducible expression of a target gene in the placenta is a major limitation for studying placental development and function. RESULTS: To study the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRalpha)-directed and tamoxifen-induced Cre recombinase expression in the placenta, PDGFRalpha-CreER mice were crossed with mT/mG dual-fluorescent reporter mice. The expression of endogenous membrane-localized enhanced green fluorescent protein (mEGFP) and/or dTomato in the placenta was examined to identify PDGFRalpha promoter-directed Cre expression. Pregnant PDGFRalpha-CreER;mT/mG mice were treated with tamoxifen at various gestational ages. Upon tamoxifen treatment, reporter protein mEGFP was observed in the junctional zone (JZ) and chorionic plate (CP). Furthermore, a single dose of tamoxifen was sufficient to induce the recombination. CONCLUSIONS: PDGFRalpha-CreER expression is restricted to the JZ and CP of mouse placentas. PDGFRalpha-CreER mice provide a useful tool to conditionally knock out or overexpress a target gene in these regions of the mouse placenta. |