Fig. 1.

Diagram of the experimental protocol. Following subfornical organ (SFO) or paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN)-targeted delivery of AdCMV-luc and 3 wk of recovery, mice were randomly assigned to receive the substrates d-luciferin (150 mg/kg ip) or 3 different doses of the synthetic alkylaminoluciferin CycLuc1 (5, 7.5, and 15 mg/kg ip), and bioluminescent imaging was performed. On subsequent days, each mouse was assigned in a randomized fashion to the other groups, such that each mouse was tested in all 4 substrate groups over 4 consecutive days (i.e., randomized crossover design). Molecular structures for d-luciferin and CycLuc1 are also presented.