GnRH Mutants and Transgenic Mice

Abstract

In the past few years, several lines of GnRH transgenic mice have been created that have provided insight into the regulation of normal GnRH neurons in vivo. Some of these animals have a reporter molecule linked to the GnRH promoter, enabling visual identification of these cells in the brain. Other GnRH transgenic mice have been produced that have mutations in the 5’ flanking region of the proGnRH gene, enabling a dissection of those regions of the promoter necessary for migration, targeting and proper physiology of the GnRH neuron. There is also a spontaneous mutant, called the hypogonadal (hpg) mouse, which has a truncated GnRH gene and cannot produce the GnRH decapeptide. The hpg mouse has provided an important model for the study of mechanisms regulating reproduction, and a discussion of these animals and the “rescue” of their reproductive function by transplantation of wild-type GnRH neurons, will be provided.