FIGURE 1.

Mest is highly expressed during development and shows a specific expression in the midbrain area. (A) Mest is one of the most upregulated genes in developmental stages compared to adult mdDA neurons. (B) Coronal view of Mest expression throughout development. Mest (blue) is specifically expressed in the FP and BP of the developing midbrain throughout development. At E12.5 some overlap can be detected with the rostral TH-expressing population (brown) (1), whereas at later stages Mest expression becomes specified to the future SNc (2 and 3). (C) Coronal view of Mest expression in the adult mdDA neuronal population. Mest (blue) expression can be detected in some TH-expressing neurons (brown) of the SNc (1 and 3), although Mest transcript can also be detected in cells surrounding the TH⁺ neurons of the SNc (2).