| Popis: |
The hippocampal CA 3 region is thought to be an important place for formation of learning and memory. To understand the role of the hippocampal CA 3 region in the higher brain functions, we attempted to make a conditional targeting system specific for the hippocampal CA 3 region using the Cre/loxP recombination system. The CA 3 specific expression of Cre recombinase was attained by inserting Cre gene into the glutamate receptor γ 1 subunit (GluR γ 1) gene that was predominantly expressed in the CA 3 pyramidal neurons. Then we generated a mutant mouse line, γ 1 CreN from C57BL/6 ES cells, which is most suitable for behavioral studies. In the γ 1 CreN line, functional Cre recombinase activity was observed to be restricted almost only to the hippocampal CA 3 pyramidal neurons starting from newborn period to adulthood. The efficacy of Cre-mediated recombination was as high as 100 % in the pyramidal cells of the hippocampal CA 3 region both at postnatal ages 8 days and 10 weeks. This γ 1 CreN line is expected to become a useful tool for studying molecular functions of the hippocampal CA 3 region. |
