Application

• Function research of genes
• This Drd2^Cre model is an efficient tool to study various gene functions when crossed with rats with different loxP site-flanked genes of interest, especially in studies of D2 dopamine receptor subtype-expressing neurons, and may be useful for studying dopamine-sensitive behaviors such as addiction. 

Expression

Expressed gene

Cre, cre recombinase, bacteriophage P1

Site of expression

postsynaptic dopaminergic neurons

Gene editing strategy

A P2A-NLS-Cre sequence cassette was placed between the coding sequence of exon 3 and 3’UTR of the Drd2 gene. This strain was maintained on a Sprague Dawley genetic background.

Phenotype Analysis

k Immunofluorescent images of tdTomato and DRD2 in the striatum of Drd2 reporter rats. Arrows indicate the colocalization of tdTomato and DRD2. Scale bar, 25 µm. l Western blot of DRD2 and GAPDH in the striatum from Drd2::Cre+/− and WT rats. Left, representative blots, right, quantifcation results. NS not signifcant, n= 3, t test

(source: Yu Q et al.,2019)

1. Yu Q, Liu YZ, Zhu YB, Wang YY, Li Q, Yin DM. Genetic labeling reveals temporal and spatial expression pattern of D2 dopamine receptor in rat forebrain. Brain Struct Funct. 2019 Apr;224(3):1035-1049. [PubMed: 30604007]

2. Bunzow, J. R., Van Tol, H. H., Grandy, D. K., Albert, P., Salon, J., Christie, M., Machida, C. A., Neve, K. A., Civelli, O. Cloning and expression of a rat D2 dopamine receptor cDNA. Nature 336: 783-787, 1988. [PubMed: 2974511]

3. Duan, J., Wainwright, M. S., Comeron, J. M., Saitou, N., Sanders, A. R., Gelernter, J., Gejman, P. V. Synonymous mutations in the human dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) affect mRNA stability and synthesis of the receptor. Hum. Molec. Genet. 12: 205-216, 2003. [PubMed: 12554675]

4. Basu, S., Nagy, J. A., Pal, S., Vasile, E., Eckelhoefer, I. A., Bliss, V. S., Manseau, E. J., Dasgupta, P. S., Dvorak, H. F., Mukhopadhyay, D. The neurotransmitter dopamine inhibits angiogenesis induced by vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor. Nature Med. 7: 569-574, 2001. [PubMed: 11329058]

Dorsal BNST DRD2+ neurons mediate sex-specific anxiety-like behavior induced by chronic social isolation.pdf

When using the B-Drd2-Cre rats strain in a publication, please indicate the originate from Biocytogen and stock #210488 in your Materials and Methods section.