Sertoli and granulosa cell-specific Cre recombinase activity in transgenic mice

Genesis. 2002 Jul;33(3):114-8. doi: 10.1002/gene.10100.

Abstract

We have established transgenic mice expressing the Cre recombinase under the control of the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) gene promoter. Cre activity and specificity were evaluated by different means. In AMH-Cre mice, expression of the Cre recombinase mRNA was confined to the testis and ovary. AMH-Cre mice were crossed with reporter transgenic lines and the offspring exhibited Cre-mediated recombination only in the testis and the ovary. In male, histochemical analysis indicated that recombination occurred in every Sertoli cells. In female, Cre-mediated recombination was restricted to granulosa cells, but the protein was not evenly active in every cells. From these results, we conclude that potentially, this transgenic line possessing AMH promoter-driven expression of the Cre recombinase is a powerful tool to delete genes in Sertoli cells only, in order to study Sertoli cell gene function during mammalian spermatogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Granulosa Cells / metabolism*
  • Integrases / genetics
  • Integrases / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Organ Specificity
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Sertoli Cells / metabolism*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Viral Proteins
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases