Genetic labelling of specific axonal pathways in the mouse central nervous system

Eur J Neurosci. 2002 Mar;15(5):807-14. doi: 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2002.01911.x.

Abstract

We report on transgenic mouse lines in which several sensory systems in the brain are specifically visualized genetically. We employed GAP-lacZ as an axon-targeted reporter protein that was constructed by fusing the membrane-anchoring domain of the GAP-43 protein to lacZ. The reporter gene was introduced into the genome under the control of a promoter element of Brn3b transcription factor to establish transgenic mouse lines. The individual lines thus generated afforded clear images of specific axonal pathways of the visual, vomeronasal, pontocerebellar, and auditory systems. The reporter protein labelled the entire axonal process as well as the cell body of developing and mature neurons on staining with X-gal. We show that these lines facilitate the developmental and anatomical study of these neural systems. This strategy should be applicable to a variety of neural systems by using various specific promoter elements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Auditory Pathways / cytology
  • Auditory Pathways / embryology
  • Auditory Pathways / metabolism
  • Axons / metabolism*
  • Axons / ultrastructure
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Central Nervous System / cytology
  • Central Nervous System / embryology*
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism
  • Cerebellum / cytology
  • Cerebellum / embryology
  • Cerebellum / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Female
  • GAP-43 Protein / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics*
  • Gene Targeting / methods*
  • Genes, Reporter / genetics*
  • Lac Operon / genetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neural Pathways / cytology
  • Neural Pathways / embryology*
  • Neural Pathways / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / cytology
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3B
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Visual Pathways / cytology
  • Visual Pathways / embryology
  • Visual Pathways / metabolism
  • Vomeronasal Organ / cytology
  • Vomeronasal Organ / embryology
  • Vomeronasal Organ / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • GAP-43 Protein
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3B
  • Transcription Factors