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Localization of LGR7 Gene Expression in Adult Mouse Brain Using LGR7 Knock-out/LacZ Knock-in Mice: Correlation with LGR7 mRNA Distribution
aHoward Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia bDepartments of Target Discovery and Pharmacology, NV Organon, 5340BH Oss, The Netherlands
Address for correspondence: Dr. Andrew L. Gundlach, Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia. Voice: 61-3-8344-7324; fax: 61-3-9348-1707. a.gundlach{at}hfi.unimelb.edu.au
Knowledge of the distribution of the relaxin receptor, LGR7, in the brain provides a basis for studies of the physiologic actions of relaxin. LGR7 knock-out (KO) mice were produced by the in-frame replacement of LGR7 exon 10 and 11 with a LacZ-reporter cassette (knock-in [KI]), and in this study we used LGR7-KO/LacZ-KI mice to determine the regional/cellular distribution of LGR7 gene expression in adult mouse brain by assessing ß-galactosidase activity in perfusion-fixed sections. High densities of ß-galactosidase-positive neurons were detected in anterior olfactory and claustrum/endopiriform nuclei, deep layers of cortex (particularly somatosensory), and the subiculum. Low to moderate densities were detected in olfactory bulb (periglomerular layer), cingulate cortex, subfornical organ, hippocampal CA2/dentate hilus, amygdala, hypothalamus, and thalamus. This LGR7/LacZ expression appears to recapitulate that of native LGR7 in wild-type mice and provides a model to further investigate the phenotype of LGR7-responsive neurons in the brain and to help reveal functions associated with central relaxin signaling.
Key Words: LGR7 • gene expression • X-gal histochemistry • olfactory bulb • cortex • hippocampus • thalamus and hypothalamus • somatosensory-neuroendocrine function • knock-out mouse
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