Generation and Characterization of miR-34a/p53 Knockout Mice

The generation of miR-34a^−/− mice with a C57BL6/SV129 background has been described previously [25 (link)]. To delete Mir34a and p53 in IECs, Mir34a^Fl/Fl [25 (link)] and p53^Fl/Fl [24 (link)] mice crossed to Villin-Cre mice [26 (link)]. p53^Fl/Fl mice were obtained from Anton Berns (NKI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) and Villin-Cre mice from Jackson Laboratories (Bar Harbor, ME, USA). All mice were crossed to at least 5 generations to FVB background. In all experiments, littermate controls were used. Mice were injected i.p. with Azoxymethane (AOM, 10 mg/kg, Sigma-Aldrich) at the age of 6 to 10 weeks, six times in weekly intervals, and on week 16 all mice were sacrificed. Mice were housed in individually ventilated cages (IVC) using “Lingocel Select” bedding. All animal protocols were approved by the local authorities (Regierung von Oberbayern, AZ: 55.2-1-54-2532-201-2014). All experiments involving mice were conducted with approval by the local Animal Experimentation Committee (Regierung of Oberbayern).