Updated 13 April 2009

Pronuclear injection is the most widely used protocol for the generation of transgenic mice. Here, we describe all steps involved from DNA purification to the set up of a mouse colony including vasectomy, injection of the DNA into a donor zygote, transfer of injected zygotes into recipient foster mice, screening of offspring and establishment of transgenic mouse lines. We discuss the use of neuron-specific promoters to express proteins with a role in Alzheimer disease. Transgenic expression of a truncated form of the microtubule-associated protein tau (Dtau) is used as an example for the anticipated results.

Ittner LM, Götz J. Pronuclear injection for the production of transgenic mice. Nat Protoc. 2007;2(5):1206-15. Abstract

Ittner LM, Fath T, Ke YD, Bi M, van Eersel J, Li KM, Gunning P, Götz J. Parkinsonism and impaired axonal transport in a mouse model of frontotemporal dementia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Oct 14;105(41):15997-6002. Abstract

Götz J, Ittner LM. Animal models of Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008 Jul;9(7):532-44. Abstract