Cre Activated and Inactivated Recombinant Adeno‐Associated Viral Vectors for Neuronal Anatomical Tracing or Activity Manipulation. Issue 1 (1st July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saunders, Arpiar; Sabatini, Bernardo L.
• Editors: Gerfen, Charles R.; Holmes, Andrew; Sibley, David; Skolnick, Phil; Wray, Susan
• Is Part Of: Current protocols in neuroscience. Issue 72:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 1.24.1
• Page End: 1.24.15
• Publication Date: 2015-07-01
• Subjects: AAV -- rAAV -- Cre‐lox -- Cre‐dependent virus -- viral tracer; Neurosciences -- Laboratory manuals; Neurosciences; Cytological Techniques; Histological Techniques; Nervous System -- anatomy & histology; Neurosciences; Laboratory Manual; Laboratory manuals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1002/0471142301.ns0124s72
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1934-8576

Abstract

Abstract: Recombinant adeno‐associated viruses (rAAVs) transcriptionally activated by Cre recombinase (Cre‐On) are powerful tools for determining the anatomy and function of genetically defined neuronal types in transgenic Cre driver mice. Here we describe how rAAVs transcriptionally inactivated by Cre (Cre‐Off) can be used in conjunction with Cre‐On rAAVs or genomic Cre‐reporter alleles to study brain circuits. Intracranial injection of Cre‐On/Cre‐Off rAAVs into spatially intermingled Cre + and Cre ‐ neurons allows these populations to be differentially labeled or manipulated within individual animals. This comparison helps define the unique properties of Cre + neurons, highlighting the specialized role they play in their constituent brain circuits. This protocol touches on the conceptual and experimental background of Cre‐Off rAAV systems, including caveats and methods of validation. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.