Generation of embryonic stem cells and transgenic mice expressing green fluorescence protein in midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Eur J Neurosci 2004 Mar;19(5):1133-40
Date
03/16/2004Pubmed ID
15016072DOI
10.1111/j.1460-9568.2004.03206.xScopus ID
2-s2.0-12144286982 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 151 CitationsAbstract
We have generated embryonic stem (ES) cells and transgenic mice with green fluorescent protein (GFP) inserted into the Pitx3 locus via homologous recombination. In the central nervous system, Pitx3-directed GFP was visualized in dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. Live primary DA neurons can be isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting from these transgenic mouse embryos. In culture, Pitx3-GFP is coexpressed in a proportion of ES-derived DA neurons. Furthermore, ES cell-derived Pitx3-GFP expressing DA neurons responded to neurotrophic factors and were sensitive to DA-specific neurotoxin N-4-methyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine. We anticipate that the Pitx3-GFP ES cells could be used as a powerful model system for functional identification of molecules governing mDA neuron differentiation and for preclinical research including pharmaceutical drug screening and transplantation. The Pitx3 knock-in mice, on the other hand, could be used for purifying primary neurons for molecular studies associated with the midbrain-specific DA phenotype at a level not previously feasible. These mice would also provide a useful tool to study DA fate determination from embryo- or adult-derived neural stem cells.
Author List
Zhao S, Maxwell S, Jimenez-Beristain A, Vives J, Kuehner E, Zhao J, O'Brien C, de Felipe C, Semina E, Li MAuthor
Elena V. Semina PhD Chief, Professor in the Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsCells, Cultured
Dopamine
Embryo, Mammalian
Female
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Green Fluorescent Proteins
Homeodomain Proteins
Luminescent Proteins
Male
Mesencephalon
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Transgenic
Neurons
Pregnancy
Stem Cells
Transcription Factors