Figure 4.

Pharmacogenetic silencing and activation of c-Maf^EX spinal interneurons in naive mice

(A) Schematic illustration of an intersectional DREADD construct.³⁸ DREADD expression (mCherry) was driven by the rAAV.EF1α.C_on/D_on.hM4Di-mCherry injected into the lumbar spinal cord of c-Maf^EX mice. Quantification of the percentage of DREADD-expressing cells that co-express c-Maf only (c-Maf^EX) or c-Maf and Pax2 (c-Maf^IN) after injection into c-Maf^EX or c-Maf^IN mice, respectively (n = 4 mice). Vice versa, the number of c-Maf^EX or c-Maf^IN cell that express the DREADD were quantified (n = 4 mice).

(B–G) Behavioral responses after hM4Di-mediated silencing of c-Maf^EX neurons (hM4Di: c-Maf^EX: n = 9; control: n = 9; Table S1). Responses to mechanical stimulation (B, E, F), heat (C), cold (D), and motor coordination assessed with the rotarod (G).

(H–M) Behavioral responses after hM3Dq-mediated activation of c-Maf^EX neurons (hM3Dq: c-Maf^EX: n = 8; control: n = 5; Table S1). Responses to mechanical (H, K, L), heat (I), and cold (J). (M) Quantification of aversive behavior in c-Maf^EX and control mice injected with rAAV. EF1α.C_on/D_on.hM3Dq, 2 h after CNO injection (c-Maf^EX: n = 8; control: n = 8).

Error bars denote ±SEM. Number of mice and statistics are shown in Table S1. In brief: ^∗p < 0.05, ^∗∗p < 0.01 (B–L: ANOVA, followed by pairwise comparisons; M: unpaired Student’s t test). Scale bars, 100 μm (overview image) and 10 μm (higher-magnification images).