Immunohistochemical characterization of a gene-targeted UcnCre line of mice

Neurons expressing Urocortin-1 (Ucn) in the Edinger Westphal (EW) nucleus have been hypothesized to play an important role in regulating consummatory behaviors and metabolism, affective-like behaviors, and responses to stress. We generated UcnCre mice to allow measurement and manipulation of Ucn neuron activity. The images of immunostaining included here demonstrate Cre-induced protein expression in EW cell bodies and projection fibers following a genetic cross to Rosa26LSL-tdTomato mice (tdTomato expression) and a viral injection of pAAV1-Ef1a-DIO-Syn:mCherry (eliciting synaptophysin-mCherry expression). The tdTomato expression can also be seen in cell bodies in the anterior insular cortex, likely as a result of those cells transiently expressing Ucn during development.