Characterization of preproenkephalin expressing neurons in the nervous system using a transgenic line

• Here we have constructed a Cre line to target preproenkephalin expressing cells (Penk-Cre) using a BAC cloning strategy. By crossing our Penk-Cre line with the tdTomato reporter, tdTomato;Penk-Cre expressing cells could be visualized. Penk-Cre was expressed throughout the dorsal spinal cord, where approximately 50% of the neurons were residing within lamina III. Furthermore, single-cell analysis of spinal Penk-Cre expressing cells showed that 41% was positive for Penk mRNA and that a majority (94%) of the population expressed Vglut2 mRNA. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that only 7% and 13% expressed the inhibitory markers Viaat-egfp and Pax2, respectively, hence identifying spinal Penk-Cre expressing neurons as mainly excitatory. The expression of Penk-Cre in the brain was extensive, including dense expression in the striatum, nucleus accumbens and several amygdaloid nuclei. Furthermore, Penk-Cre expression was also shown in insular cortex, cingulated cortex, primary and secondary somatosensory cortices and the trigeminal nuclei. The Penk-Cre line represents a useful genetic tool for future analysis of PENK expressing neurons in the nervous system. 

Keyword

characterization

Cre

preproenkephalin

Penk

Medicinsk vetenskap

Medical Science

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)