Background | Status & Availability | Transgene Info | Phenotypic Characterization | Breeding | Genotyping | References | Blog/Comments/Reviews | Related rats | Acknowledgements
Background
The dopamine receptor Drd1a is highly expressed in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the striatum but expression is also detected in other brain regions. The Drd1a-expressing MSNs send inhibitory projections to the globus pallidus interna (GPi)and substantia nigra (SNr)reticulata to exert control over voluntary movement. These projecting neurons are referred to as the “direct pathway” or “D1 pathway”. We have generated and characterized a strain of transgenic Long Evans rats expressing iCre recombinase under a Drd1a promoter referred to as “LE-Tg(Drd1a-iCre)3Ottc.” The tissue-specific expression of iCre can be used in combination with Cre-dependent transgenes to obtain selective expression of transgenes in Drd1a(+) cells.
Status and Availability
This rat has been published (PMID: 31515501).
As of February 21, 2017, this strain is available as line 767 at the RRRC.
This rat is registered at the Rat Genome Database (RGD) as RGD ID#10412325.
Transgene Information/Description
Legend: A bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) containing the rat Drd1a gene (CH230-115J9) was obtained from CHORI, and recombineered to replace the start codon of Drd1a with a 1.3 kb cassette containing iCre (improved Cre recombinase) and the polyadenylation signal from the gene for bovine growth hormone (pOTTC420). This BAC was injected into the pronuclei of fertilized Long Evans rat embryos by NIMH Transgenic Core, and ultimately resulted in seven independent, phenotypically positive Drd1a::iCre lines. This line (LE-Tg(Drd1a-iCre)3Ottc) has a single copy of the transgene per haploid genome as determined by droplet digital PCR.
Phenotypic Characterization
Breeding Strategy
Breeding Information, click here for text version or here for PDF
Genotyping Assays
Assay for the presence of Drd1 and iCre, click here for PDF
References that cite this rat
2023
In: Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 459–467, 2023, ISSN: 1740-634X.
2020
Chemogenetic selective manipulation of nucleus accumbens medium spiny neurons bidirectionally controls alcohol intake in male and female rats Journal Article
In: Scientific Reports, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 19178, 2020, ISBN: 2045-2322.
Unbalanced Inhibitory/Excitatory Responses in the Substantia Nigra Pars Reticulata Underlie Cannabinoid-Related Slowness of Movements Journal Article
In: The Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 40, no. 30, pp. 5769, 2020.
In: Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 40, no. 44, pp. 8463–8477, 2020, ISSN: 0270-6474.
2019
Ventral Pallidum Is the Primary Target for Accumbens D1 Projections Driving Cocaine Seeking. Journal Article
In: J Neurosci, vol. 39, no. 11, pp. 2041–2051, 2019, ISSN: 1529-2401 (Electronic); 0270-6474 (Linking).
A novel role for the actin-binding protein drebrin in regulating opiate addiction Journal Article
In: Nat Commun, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 4140, 2019, ISSN: 2041-1723.
Blog/Comments/Reviews
Last Updated on November 9, 2022
LE-Tg(Drd1a-iCre)3Ottc
There are 36 surveyed reports for the receiving and usage of the transgenic Drd1a-iCre rats for scientific experiments.
General Health
There are no reports of general health issues with the LE-Tg(Drd1a-iCre)3Ottc rats
Weight
There are no reports of weight changes with the LE-Tg(Drd1a-iCre)3Ottc rats
Breeding
One researcher observed decreased litter size “fewer animals” with the LE-Tg(Drd1a-iCre)3Ottc rats
Expression
There are no reports of expression issues with the LE-Tg(Drd1a-iCre)3Ottc rats
Other related rats
Acknowledgements
YaJun Zhang, Julie Necarsulmer, Chris Richie, Brandon Harvey, Janette Lebron, Lemuel Brown