Figure 2.

α6* nAChR expression in catecholamine-producing neurons. A, α6* nAChR expression in ventral midbrain DA neurons. Coronal sections (bregma −3.5 mm) were prepared from α6-GFP transgenic mice, followed by dual staining with anti-GFP and anti- TH antibodies to label DA neurons. Sections were imaged with laser-scanning confocal microscopy, and fluorescence from both channels (green, anti-GFP; red, anti-TH) were merged to indicate coexpression of α6* nAChRs within TH(+) neurons. B, α6* nAChR expression in LC NE neurons. Coronal sections (bregma −5.52 mm) from α6-GFP transgenic mice containing LC were prepared and double stained as described in A. C, D, α6* nAChR expression in DA axons. Sagittal sections (lateral 0.96 mm) containing medial forebrain bundle (MFB) DA axons were prepared from α6-GFP transgenic mice (C) and nontransgenic control mice (D). Sections were stained for GFP and TH as in A and B. GFP and TH channels were merged, and yellow indicates α6-GFP staining within TH(+) DA axons. E, F, α6* nAChR expression in DA terminals in striatum. Coronal sections (bregma +0.14 mm) from α6-GFP transgenic mice (E) and nontransgenic control mice (F) containing dorsal striatum were prepared, stained for GFP and TH, and imaged as above. Yellow indicates α6-GFP staining within TH(+) DA terminals. CPu, caudate putamen.