Figure 4. Smooth muscle optoeffector and optosensor expression.

(A) Native fluorescence of surface blood vessels from Acta2^BAC-GCaMP_GR (upper) and Acta2^BAC-GCaMP8.1_mVermilion brain (lower). Note the absence of fluorescence in veins (arrows). Left panel: overlay; right panels: red and green channels. (B) X-gal staining of brain surface arteries from Acta2 optoeffector mice. All images shown are representative images from three animals unless otherwise specified.

Figure 4—figure supplement 1. Acta2^BAC optogenetic reporter and effector lines.

(A) RFP expression in Acta2^BAC-RCaMP1.07. Upper panel: the RCaMP1.07 is expressed in coronary artery (A) but not veins (V). Scale bar: 100 µm. Lower panel: RCaMP1.07 fluorescence signaling in the right atrium (dashed line: right atrium). (B) GCaMP signal in longitudinal muscle of large intestine (taeniae coli) demonstrating intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration changes with muscle contraction and relaxation. Color scale shown below the images. (C) X-gal staining in various tissues from Acta2^BAC effector mice and non-transgenic litter mate. Scale bars; Upper panels: 300 µm; Lower panels: 200 µm. All images shown are representative images from three animals unless otherwise specified.

Figure 4—video 1. RCaMP1.07 fluorescence in right atrium of Acta2^BAC-RCaMP1.07.

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Figure 4—video 2. GCaMP fluorescence in large intestine of Acta2^BAC-GCaMP_GR mouse.

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The image was colorized in ImageJ; for color scale, see Figure 4—figure supplement 1.