[Construction of transgenic mice with specific Cre recombinase expression in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex]

The adrenal gland is an important endocrine organ of human body. CYP11B1 gene was specifically expressed in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex. In order to better study the function of genes specifically expressed in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex, the mice with Cre recombinase specifically expressed in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex were constructed. It was then confirmed that CYP11B1 was specifically expressed in adrenal glands. Then, using CRISPR/Cas9 technique, CYP11B1-2A-GfpCre recombinant vector was constructed and subsequently injected into the fertilized eggs of mice. It was confirmed that the Cre gene was mainly expressed in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex of CYP11B1Cre mice by using mTmG and LacZ staining. The CYP11B1Cre mice were then mated with cystathionine γ-lyase (CTH)^f/f mice, thereby generating CTH^f/f/CYP11B1Cre mice. It was also confirmed that CTH gene in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex was specifically knocked out in these mice. These results suggest that transgenic mice with specific Cre recombinase expression in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex were constructed successfully. This animal model can be a powerful tool for the study of the function of genes expressed in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex.