A 1.8 kb GFAP-promoter fragment is active in specific regions of the embryonic CNS

The intermediate filament glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) constitutes the major cytoskeletal protein in astrocytes (J. Neuroimmunol. 8 (1985) 203) and is traditionally referred to as a specific marker for astrocytes, To identify early glial precursors, we created GFAPpromoter-lacZ transgenic mice, using a 1.8 kb 5 ' fragment of human GFAP. The expression of the transgene was first detected in the neuroepithelium at embryonic day 9.5. It was further found in the ventricular zone of the developing telencephalon, in the cerebellar primordium, trigeminal ganglia, and radial glia. Later, scattered beta -gal(+) cells were seen in pons, brain stem and glia limitans. The results indicate that GFAP activity is regulated in a region-specific manner during central nervous system (CNS) development and that the gene is turned on in different cell types independently. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.