Figure 4.

Expression of BDNF in Bdnf-e1^−/−mouse brain. (A–E) Immunofluorescent staining of Bdnf-e1–driven eGFP in cross sections through Bdnf-e1^−/− mice brain from caudal to rostral. The green fluorescence indicates cells in which Bdnf-e1–driven expression of BDNF is disrupted. Dashed lines (white) indicate the separation of nucleus or subnucleus; solid lines (yellow) indicate neuronal fibers or brain ventricles. Scale bar (red), 50 μm. (A) Bregma 1.18 mm eGFP fluorescence was detected in Cg2 (cingulate cortex, area 2). Cg1, cingulate cortex, area 1; M2, secondary motor cortex; gcc, genu of the corpus callosum; cg, cingulum. (B) Bregma −0.94 mm eGFP fluorescence was expressed selectively in BLA (basal lateral amygdala) and LA (lateral amygdala) but not CeC (central amygdaloid nucleus, capsular part), CeMAD (central amygdaloid, medial division, anterodorsal part), CeMAV (central amygdaloid, medial division, anteroventral part), or BMA (basomedial amygdaloid nucleus). Note a fairly confined expression of eGFP in BLA. (C) Bregma −1.58 mm. In the hypothalamus, eGFP fluorescence was largely confined to the LH. ns, nigrostriatal bundle. (D) Bregma −2.18 mm eGFP fluorescence was expressed selectively in the MePV (medial amygdaloid nucleus). BSTIA, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, intra-amygdaloid division; PMCo, posteromedial cortical amygdaloid nucleus; DG, dentate gyrus; cp, cerebral peduncle. (E) Bregma −3.28 mm eGFP fluorescence was expressed in APir (amygdalopiriform transition area) and the part of caudal PMCo. LEnt, lateral entorhinal cortex. (F) Bregma −0.82 mm eGFP fluorescence was hardly detected in PVH. AHC, anterior hypothalamic area, central part. SPa, subparaventricular zone of the hypothalamus. 3V, the third ventricle. (G) Expression of BDNF protein in LH, DMH, and VMH of WT and Bdnf-e1^−/− mice. BDNF protein levels were normalized with total lysed protein. A two-site BDNF ELISA was used to quantify the level of BDNF protein.