PRR knockdown in the PVN by AAV2-delivered Cre recombinase. A: representative images of mouse PRR (red) immunostaining and eGFP fluorescence (green) in the PVN. White dashed circles in higher magnification images (10 μm) indicate representative cells expressing both PRR and eGFP. B: semiquantitative analysis of the relative intensity of PRR fluorescence signals in eGFP-positive cells. C: number of eGFP-positive cells in each PVN (n = 7 PVNs from 3 mice/group). D: PRR mRNA levels in the PVN, cortex, and brain stem (BS), determined by RT-qPCR (*P < 0.05 vs. AAV-Con; n = 3 mice/group, 2 PVNs from each mouse were combined). 3V, third ventricle; AAV, adeno-associated virus; eGFP, enhanced green fluorescent protein; PaPo, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, posterior part; PaMP, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, medial parvicellular part; PRR, (pro)renin receptor; PVN, paraventricular nucleus; RFU, relative fluorescence units; RT-qPCR, reverse-transcription quantitative PCR.