Toxic and Phenotypic Effects of AAV_Cre Used to Transduce Mesencephalic Dopaminergic Neurons.

ABSTRACT: A popular approach to spatiotemporally target genes using the loxP/Cre recombination system is stereotaxic microinjection of adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing Cre recombinase (AAV_Cre) in specific neuronal structures. Here, we report that AAV_Cre microinjection in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of ErbB4 Cyt-1-floxed (ErbB4 Cyt-1^fl/fl) mice at titers commonly used in the literature (~10¹²-10¹³ GC/mL) can have neurotoxic effects on dopaminergic neurons and elicit behavioral abnormalities. However, these effects of AAV_Cre microinjection are independent of ErbB4 Cyt-1 recombination because they are also observed in microinjected wild-type (WT) controls. Mice microinjected with AAV_Cre (10¹²-10¹³ GC/mL) exhibit reductions of

SUBMITTER: Erben L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9408874 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature