Figure 8.
Distribution patterns of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter (DAT) in the caudomedial NAc shell. (A) Distribution of TH (red) and GFP (cyan) fluorescence in the NAc of Drd2-EGFP and Drd3-Cre/Rosa26:loxP double transgenic mice. Yellow asterisk identifies the D2R-expressing MSNs-poor zone. Images are single confocal sections. Yellow arrowheads identify the bundle-shaped area. Scale bar: 250 μm. (B) Triple immunostaining for GFP (green), TH (red), and DAT (blue) allowed the identification of DA neurons on the unlesioned side of Drd2-EGFP mice. Note the lack of staining in the VTA on the lesioned side. Images are single confocal sections. Scale bar: 500 μm. (C) The same triple immunostaining performed at the caudomedial NAc shell level revealed the absence of DAT and a strong reduction of immunoreactive terminals in the D2R-expressing MSNs-poor zone (yellow asterisk). Images are single confocal sections. Scale bar: 250 μm.
