A resource of Cre driver lines for genetic targeting of GABAergic neurons in cerebral cortex

Neuron. 2011 Sep 22;71(6):995-1013. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2011.07.026. Epub 2011 Sep 21.

Abstract

A key obstacle to understanding neural circuits in the cerebral cortex is that of unraveling the diversity of GABAergic interneurons. This diversity poses general questions for neural circuit analysis: how are these interneuron cell types generated and assembled into stereotyped local circuits and how do they differentially contribute to circuit operations that underlie cortical functions ranging from perception to cognition? Using genetic engineering in mice, we have generated and characterized approximately 20 Cre and inducible CreER knockin driver lines that reliably target major classes and lineages of GABAergic neurons. More select populations are captured by intersection of Cre and Flp drivers. Genetic targeting allows reliable identification, monitoring, and manipulation of cortical GABAergic neurons, thereby enabling a systematic and comprehensive analysis from cell fate specification, migration, and connectivity, to their functions in network dynamics and behavior. As such, this approach will accelerate the study of GABAergic circuits throughout the mammalian brain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Line
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Knock-In Techniques
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Integrases / metabolism*
  • Interneurons / cytology
  • Interneurons / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Stem Cells / physiology
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism*

Substances

  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases