Figure 5.

Validation of a novel viral construct to selectively knock down Npas2 in NAc MSNs. A, Stuffer DNA is removed upon recombination of loxP elements in Cre-expressing animals followed by the activation of Scramble or Npas2-shRNA construct. B, Expression of Cre-inducible Npas2-shRNA in the NAc (regional homogenates) of Drd1a-Cre mice leads to a significant reduction in the relative mRNA expression of Npas2 compared with scramble virus. C, Representative RNAscope in situ hybridization micrographs (white, Cre; orange, mCherry) of the NAc from Drd1a-Cre (top) and Drd2-Cre (bottom) mice following 3 weeks of AAV2–H1.lox.mCherry-Npas2-shRNA. Area in the box is enlarged to depict cells expressing Cre and mCherry. AC, Anterior commissure. n = 6 animals per group. **p < 0.01.