Available Technology
Corticospinal tract (CST)-YFP transgenic mice for monitoring axonal responses to spinal cord injury
Technology:
Transgenic mice
Markets Addressed
When crossed to the appropriate Cre recombinase-expressing strain, expression of EYFP is observed in motor neurons in this mouse strain. It may be useful in studies of synaptic function.
Innovations and Advantages
The rodent corticospinal tract (CST) has been used extensively to investigate regeneration and remodeling of central axons after injury. CST axons are currently visualized after injection of tracer dye, which is invasive, incomplete and prone to variation, and often does not show functionally crucial but numerically minor tract components. Here, we characterize transgenic mice in which CST fibers are specifically and completely labeled by yellow fluorescent protein (YFP).
These transgenic mice (common name: Thy1-STOP-YFP line 15) conditionally express Enhanced Yellow Fluorescent Protein (EYFP) under the direction of the mouse thymus cell antigen 1, theta, promoter. Expression of the EYFP gene is blocked by a loxP-flanked STOP fragment placed between the promoter and EYFP gene. Cre-mediated excision of the STOP cassette results in expression of EYFP in motor neurons.
Additional Information
This transgenic mouse is available through Jackson Laboratory JAX 005630 (JAX 005630).
Use of mice by companies or for-profit entities requires a separate commercial license from Harvard University.
Publication:
Bareyre FM, Kerschensteiner M, Misgeld T, Sanes JR. 2005. Transgenic labeling of the corticospinal tract for monitoring axonal responses to spinal cord injury. Nat Med 11(12):1355-60.
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Inventor(s):
Bareyre, Florence M.
Sanes, Joshua R.
Categories:
For further information, please contact:
Debra Peattie, Director of Business Development
(617) 495-3067
Reference Harvard Case #2889