Tg(Nes-Emx2)1Ddmo

A 5.8 kb fragment of rat nestin promoter sequence drives expression of a 0.8 kb rat Emx2 cDNA, which is 100% identical in sequence to mouse Emx2. These sequences are followed by a SV40 polyA signal, trailed by a 5.4 kb nestin genomic sequence, that provides enhancer activity. Expression is detectable by in situ hybridization at E14.5, a peak of cortical neurogenesis, of combined expression of endogenous and transgene-expressed Emx2 in transgenic mice. In transgenic mice, a high caudomedial to low rostrolateral gradient of Emx2 transcripts is evident in the cortical VZ, and expression is higher than that in controls. Enhanced Emx2 expression is also evident in the ganglionic eminence of transgenic mice, and moderate expression is detected in other nestin-positive proliferative zones, such as in dTh, where expression is not detected in controls. (J:96705)