Inserting Cre recombinase into the Prolactin 8a2 gene for decidua‐specific recombination in mice. Issue 4 (27th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dickson, Mackenzie J.; Oh, Yeongseok; Gruzdev, Artiom; Li, Rong; Balaguer, Nuria; Kelleher, Andrew M.; Spencer, Thomas E.; Wu, San‐Pin; DeMayo, Francesco J.
• Is Part Of: Genesis. Volume 60:Issue 4/5(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-04-27
• Subjects: decidua -- genetic model -- implantation; Developmental genetics -- Periodicals; Genetics -- Periodicals; Developmental biology -- Periodicals; Embryology -- Periodicals; Genetic regulation -- Periodicals; 576.5
• DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23473
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-954X

Abstract

Summary: An estimated 75% of unsuccessful pregnancies are due to implantation failure. Investigating the causes of implantation failure is difficult as decidualization and embryo implantation is a dynamic process. Here, we describe a new decidua‐specific iCre recombinase mouse strain. Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9‐based genome editing, a mouse strain was developed that expresses iCre recombinase under the control of the endogenous prolactin family 8, subfamily a, member 2 (Prl8a2) promoter. iCre recombinase activity was examined by crossing with mTmG/+ or Sun1‐GFP reporter alleles. iCre activity initiated reporter expression at gestational day 5.5 in the primary decidual zone and continued into mid‐gestation (gestational day 9.5), with expression highly concentrated in the anti‐mesometrial region. No reporter expression was observed in the ovary, oviduct, pituitary, or skeletal muscle, supporting the tissue specificity of the Prl8a2iCre in the primary decidual zone. This novel iCre line will be a valuable tool for in vivo genetic manipulation and lineage tracing to investigate functions of genetic networks and cellular dynamics associated with decidualization and infertility.