Fig. 3: Alk5 gene deletion in a P2ry12^CreER/CreER driver line results in increased neuroblasts/immature neurons and dendritic arborization in adult SGZ.

A Mouse model for targeting microglial (P2ry12^CreER/CreER) Alk5 in adult mice to examine adult neurogenesis in SGZ. B–C Representative images showing immunohistochemistry staining for IBA1, TMEM119, and P2RY12 (Clone P2YM 1E5) in B control mice and C P2ry12^CreER/CreER-Alk5^fl/fl at 3 weeks after TAM administration. D, E Representative images showing immunohistochemistry staining for DCX and Ki67 in D control mice and E P2ry12^CreER/CreER-Alk5^fl/fl at 3 weeks after TAM administration. F–I Quantification for F TMEM119 immunoreactivity, G P2RY12 immunoreactivity, H DCX+ cells quantification compared to the wildtype mean, and I quantification of dendritic arborization (% of immunoreactive positive area) compared to the wildtype mean. F (n = 6 for WT and n = 6 for KO, ****p < 0.0001); G (n = 6 for WT and n = 6 for KO, ****p < 0.0001); H (n = 6 for WT and n = 6 for KO, *p = 0.0359); I (n = 6 for WT and n = 6 for KO, ***p = 0.0009). Each data point represents the average of a single animal (3–6 brain sections analyzed per mouse) and n = 6 for each group (wildtype or knockout). The sex of each animal is represented by open circles (females) and open triangles (males). Mean ± SE. Two-sided Student’s t-test for all panels except Welch’s t-test was used for panel G. Scale bar as indicated. Panel A was created in BioRender. Luo, A. (2026) https://BioRender.com/1834acf. Source data are provided as a source data file.