The platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha promoter-directed expression of cre recombinase in mouse placenta

Background Numerous pathologies of pregnancy originate from placental dysfunction. It is essential to understand the functions of key genes in the placenta in order to discern the etiology of placental pathologies. A paucity of animal models that allow conditional and inducible expression of a target gene in the placenta is a major limitation for studying placental development and function. Results To study the platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFR alpha)-directed and tamoxifen-induced Cre recombinase expression in the placenta, PDGFR alpha-CreER mice were crossed with mT/mG dual-fluorescent reporter mice. The expression of endogenous membrane-localized enhanced green fluorescent protein (mEGFP) and/or dTomato in the placenta was examined to identify PDGFR alpha promoter-directed Cre expression. Pregnant PDGFR alpha-CreER;mT/mG mice were treated with tamoxifen at various gestational ages. Upon tamoxifen treatment, reporter protein mEGFP was observed in the junctional zone (JZ) and chorionic plate (CP). Furthermore, a single dose of tamoxifen was sufficient to induce the recombination. Conclusions PDGFR alpha-CreER expression is restricted to the JZ and CP of mouse placentas. PDGFR alpha-CreER mice provide a useful tool to conditionally knock out or overexpress a target gene in these regions of the mouse placenta.