Generation and characterization of PDGFR-GFPCreERt2 knock-In mouse line

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and its receptor play an important role in embryogenesis. PDGF receptor (PDGFR) is expressed specifically in the embryonic day 7.5 (E7.5) mesoderm and in the E9.5 neural crest among other tissues. PDGFR-expressing cells and their descendants are involved in the formation of various tissues. To trace PDGFR-expressing cells in vivo, we generated a knock-in mouse line that expressed a fusion protein of green fluorescent protein (GFP), Cre recombinase (Cre), and mutated estrogen receptor ligand-binding domain (ERT2) under the control of the PDGFR promoter. In these mice, Cre activity in PDGFR-expressing cells could be induced by tamoxifen treatment. Taken together, our results suggest that the knock-in mouse line generated here could be useful for studying PDGFR-expressing cells and their descendants in vivo at various stages of development. genesis 53:329-336, 2015. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.