B6.129P2(129S4)-Hprt^{tm10(Ple162-EGFP/cre)Ems}/Mmjax

These Ple162-EGFPCre;mEMS954 mice have the Ple162-EGFPCre transgene targeted as a single copy "knock-in" into the upstream region of hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (Hprt) locus on the X chromosome. As the promoter/regulatory regions of the human paired-like homeodomain 3 (PITX3) gene direct expression of an EGFPCre fusion protein to a discrete, non-dopaminergic cell population in the ventral midbrain that borders the fasciculus retroflexus and the dorsal edge of the main dopaminergic population of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), these Ple162-EGFPCre;mEMS954 mice may be useful in studying PITX3-expressing cells in the brain and diseases affecting the brain, including mesocorticolimbic dopamine system function in the drug and natural reward circuitry of the brain, cognition, motivation, drug addiction, and psychiatric disorders.