Fig. 1

The expression profiles within the NAcc for two different subtypes of GHSRs. A Fluorescence signals of GHSR1a and GHSR1b were shown in the NAcc confirming the existence of GHSR at the protein level in this site (scale bar: 500 μm). The images were taken with 8 × 6 tiles at 20X magnification by confocal microscopy. Imaginary lines between the core and the shell were adopted from the Rat Brain Atlas of Paxinos and Watson (5th edition). B-E The images were taken at 20X (B, C; scale bar: 50 μm) or 63X magnification with zoom X3 (D, E; scale bar: 5 μm) by confocal microscopy. Almost all GHSR1a and GHSR1b were found expressed in neuron in the NAcc. F-I The images were taken at 20X (F, G; scale bar: 50 μm) or 63X magnification with zoom X3 (H, I; scale bar: 5 μm) by confocal microscopy. The majority of GHSR1a and GHSR1b signals were merged with dopamine- and cAMP-regulated neuronal phosphoprotein 32 kDa (DARPP-32) signals, a medium spiny neuron marker, in the NAcc. Yellow arrows indicate GHSRs expressed in the MSNs and white arrows indicate expression in non-MSNs. J-M The expression profiles of GHSR subtypes within a cell were analyzed using the Profile program of Zen 3.0. GHSR1a was observed expressed either as a circular form surrounding the cytoplasm in distal area of NeuN signaling or as uniformly spread to the cytoplasm, whereas GHSR1b was solely observed expressed uniformly distributed throughout the large cytoplasm area. The black arrows indicate the fluorescence peak signal of the GHSR.