Figure 1. Mouse models and the visualization of midbrain LepRb neurons.
(A) Schematic of methods for expression of EGFP or EGFPf in LepRb neurons. Combining Leprcre with Rosa26-EGFP or Rosa26-EGFPf alleles results in the stable expression of EGFP or EGFPf in LepRb neurons in LepRbEGFP and LepRbEGFPf mice, respectively, top. Additionally, injection into Leprcre mice of the adenoviral Ad-iZ/EGFPf promotes cre-mediated EGFPf expression in LepRb neurons surrounding in the injection site (bottom). (B,D,F) LepRb-expressing neurons revealed by EGPF-IR through the rostrocaudal extent of the midbrain of LepRbEGFP animals. (C,E,G) Colocalization of EGFP-IR (green) and TH-IR (red) through the rostrocaudal extent of the midbrain of LepRbEGFP mice. Insets show digital zooms of the boxed areas; arrowheads demonstrate examples of colocalized neurons Red stars indicate the medial lemniscus; ‘X’ indicates the ventral tegmental decussation. The scale bar represents 200 μm.