FIGURE 2.

Neocortical expression of Kir4.1 is locally increased surrounding Aβ plaques. (a) In the somatosensory cortex of WT mice Kir4.1 expression (represented as intensity in the b/w plates and in red in the colored plates) was relatively consistent across 3 M, 9 M, and 15 M cortices. Expression of Kir4.1 appeared to be somewhat stratified with lower expression at the border of layer 4 and 5 and a distinct band of expression within layer 5; this was more obvious in 9 M and 15 M mice (cortical layers delineated by white lines and layer numbers). GFAP expression (green) was largely undetectable in 3 M mice and is more prevalent, though sparse, in 9 M and 15 M mice. Kir4.1 staining is increased surrounding blood vessels (white asterisks). (b) In the somatosensory cortex of APP/PS1 mice Kir4.1 expression (represented as intensity in the b/w plates and in red in the colored plates) showed a similar distribution pattern in 3 M pre‐pathology APP/PS1 animals when compared to controls. Kir4.1 expression was locally increased surrounding plaques. The location of plaques was determined in the DAPI channel (blue), and are represented by white arrows in the middle and right plates; plaques were absent in WT littermates and 3 M APP/PS1 mice. Kir4.1 was still visible surrounding blood vessels (white asterisks). GFAP expression was also characteristically increased surrounding Aβ plaque pathology and is virtually absent in the cortex of pre‐pathological APP/PS1 mice. Scale bar: 25 μm