Left panel; Tamoxifen induces recombination in the DRG of adult AvCreERT2 mouse. Animals were injected (ip) for 5 consecutive days (2 mg per day). A - X-gal staining of adult DRG neurons from induced and un-induced mice. Neutral red was used for counterstaining. B - Quantification of recombination events in DRG of untreated and tamoxifen-treated animals. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis - unpaired T-test, p ≤ 0.01. Scale bars = 40 μm.

Right panel tamoxifen induces Cre-expression during embryonic development. A - E18.5 AvCreERT2-positive embryos from tamoxifen treated pregnant females (2 mg per day, 5 days). B - E18.5 AvCreERT2-positive embryos from vehicle treated pregnant females.

Treatment of Advillin Cre-erT2 deletor mice with tamoxifen results in  gene deletion in 90% of sensory neurons found in dorsal root ganglia. This activity is specific and does not occur in other tissues. For  full technical details see Lau et al.  Mol Pain. 2011 Dec 21;7:100. (open access Journal)