Figure 2.

TWIK-1 deletion does not alter the expression pattern of astrocyte K⁺ channels. (A) qRT-PCR results of the relative quantity of TWIK-1, K_ir4.1, TREK-1, TWIK-2, and TWIK-3 from the total mRNA isolated from mice hippocampus. The expression levels of TWIK-1 mRNAs were reduced to half and hundred percent in TWIK-1^+/− and TWIK-1^−/− mice, respectively. (B) Morphology of freshly isolated astrocyte and neuron from mice hippocampus (DIC). Scale bar: 10 μm. These cells were harvested separately for qRT-PCR analysis. Astrocytes were selected based on their positive SR101 staining (middle up panel), and SR101 staining was completely devoid in isolated pyramidal neurons (middle bottom panel). (C) The expression pattern of TWIK-1, K_ir4.1 and TREK-1 of isolated astrocytes resembled that of the hippocampal tissues (A). The expression of TWIK-1 and K_ir4.1 appeared to be astrocytic, while TREK-1 was both astrocytic and neuronal. Data were normalized to the expression level of TWIK-1 mRNA in WT. In each genotype group, 30 isolated astrocytes or neurons were harvested from 3 different mice and analyzed separately to obtain a mean ± SEM (n = 3). ^**P < 0.01.