Figure 4.
Site-specific deletion of A2ARs in rats by focal RNA interference. A, Generation of AAV vectors that contained shA2AR and the red fluorescent protein mCherry as a reporter gene. B, AAV–shA2AR vectors were stereotaxically injected into the A2AR-positive core and shell of the NAc, as well as into the OLT, CPu, and GP. C, D, Typical sections from rats injected bilaterally with AAV carrying shCTRL or shA2AR into the NAc were stained with mouse monoclonal antibody against A2AR. Immunoreactivity for A2AR is depleted selectively in the NAc of the AAV–shA2AR-treated rats (D, dashed red circle), but it is unaffected in the AAV–shCTRL-treated rats (C, red circle). E, F, NeuN staining confirms the integrity of NAc neurons (green circles) in AAV–shCTRL-injected (E) and AAV-shA2AR-injected (F) rats. Scale bars: C, E, 500 μm (also apply to D, F, respectively).