Figure 1.

Generation of Alcα-deficient mice. A, gene-targeting procedure. Shown is a schematic of the partial gene structure of the Alcα allele, including exon 1, the targeting construct, and targeted allele after crossing with FLPe-Tg mice. B, Southern blotting analysis. Probes indicated in A were used to detect WT (20 kbp) and the targeted (8.5 kbp) fragments. C, PCR products specific to the WT allele (+/+) generated with primers i plus ii (416 bp) and to the targeted allele (−/−) generated with primers ii plus iii (1,224 bp) were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. D, immunoblot analysis of Alcα and Alcα CTF. Whole-brain lysates (20 μg of protein) of WT (+/+) and homozygous mutant (−/−) mice were analyzed in 8% resolving gel with an anti-Alcα antibody and anti-actin antibody. *, nonspecific product. E, immunostaining of sagittal sections of WT (+/+) and homozygous mutant (−/−) mouse (2–3 months old) brains with the anti-Alcα antibody. Scale bar, 1 mm.