Generation of a mouse for conditional excision of progesterone receptor.

The progesterone receptor (PR) is required for several aspects of mammalian female reproduction. PR null mice have overlapping defects that preclude an understanding of its multiple functions in ovulation, pregnancy, mammary gland biology, and sexual behavior. We have generated a PR conditional excision (PRCE) allele in which loxP sites flank exon 1. Homozygous PRCE females are fertile and appear to be functionally normal. Global cre mediated excision of the floxed exon 1 using EIIa-cre mice resulted in systemic loss of exon 1 and PR protein. Female mice homozygous for this null allele were sterile, as expected for PR knockout (PRKO) females. Conditional loss of PR will facilitate investigation of the spatial and temporal roles of PR in both normal development and disease. Copyright 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.