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. 

Nyckelord

characterization

Cre

preproenkephalin

Penk

Medicinsk vetenskap

Medical Science

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)