Generation and characterization of a complete null estrogen receptor alpha mouse using Cre/LoxP technology

Mol Cell Biochem. 2009 Jan;321(1-2):145-53. doi: 10.1007/s11010-008-9928-9. Epub 2008 Oct 25.

Abstract

Conventional estrogen receptor alpha knockout (neo-ERalphaKO, neo-ERalpha(-/-)) mice contain a truncated and chimeric ERalpha fusion protein that retains 35% estrogen-dependent transactivation activity, and therefore the in vivo ERalpha function is difficult to study thoroughly. Furthermore, these neo-ERalpha(-/-) mice cannot be used for tissue and temporal specific ERalpha deletion. Therefore, there is a clear need to establish a floxed ERalpha mouse line that can knockout ERalpha specifically and completely in each selected cell type. Here we generated floxed ERalpha mice using a self-excising ACN (tACE-Cre/Neo) cassette. Mating the floxed ERalpha mice with ACTB-Cre mice produces a deletion of the floxed allele disrupting the reading frame of the ERalpha transcript so that no ERalpha protein is detected in the ACTB-Cre/ERalpha(-/-) mice. Expression of ERalpha target genes, such as G-6-PD and lactoferrin, is diminished by over 90% in the ACTB-Cre/ERalpha(-/-) uterus, but not in the neo-ERalpha(-/-) uterus. Furthermore, we also validated that ACTB-Cre/ERalpha(-/-) females have a hypoplastic internal genital tract, polycystic ovaries with hemorrhagic follicles, infertility, and higher body weight. Together, our data clearly demonstrate that the newly established floxed ERalpha mouse is a reliable mouse model for future studies of ERalpha roles in vivo in the selective estrogen target tissues. The complete knockout of ERalpha in the ACTB-Cre/ERalpha(-/-) mice will also provide an improved mouse model to study the role of ERalpha in vivo.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha* / genetics
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha* / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fertility / physiology
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques*
  • Infertility
  • Integrases / genetics
  • Integrases / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout*
  • Models, Animal
  • Uterus / abnormalities
  • Uterus / anatomy & histology
  • Uterus / metabolism

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases