Selective genetic deletion of cacna1c in the mouse prefrontal cortex

The image illustrates the elimination of Ca_v1.2 protein, encoded by the cacna1c gene, in the mouse prefrontal cortex (PFC) using adenoassociated viral (AAV) vector-expressing Cre recombinase (AAV-Cre). Cacna1c was focally eliminated in the PFC via bilateral stereotactic delivery of AAV-Cre (right panel) into the PFC of floxed cacna1c mice.¹ AAV-expressing green fluorescent protein (AAV-GFP) was used as a control, as shown in the left panel. Double immunohistochemical analysis was used to visualize GFP (green; top left image) and Ca_v1.2 (red; bottom left image) protein using anti-GFP and anti-Ca_v1.2 (ref. ²) antibodies, respectively. The larger left image displays co-localization of GFP and Ca_v1.2 (blue arrows), indicating that AAV-GFP did not alter levels of Ca_v1.2.

The right panel shows loss of Ca_v1.2 protein selectively in the PFC after delivery of AAV-Cre. As AAV-Cre also expresses GFP, viral spread can be readily visualized through immunohistochemical detection of GFP (green; top right image). Co-labeling with anti-Ca_v1.2 antibody identifies Ca_v1.2 protein (red; bottom right image). The larger image in the right panel shows the absence of Ca_v1.2 labeling in regions expressing GFP (green), indicating focal deletion of cacna1c by AAV-Cre. c.c., corpus callosum.

For more information on this topic, please refer to the article by Lee et al., on pages 1054–1055.