Data on Arc and Zif268 expression in the brain of the α-2A adrenergic receptor knockout mouse

The α2-adrenergic receptor (α2-AR) is widely distributed in the brain with distinct roles for α2-AR subtypes (A, B and C). In this article, data are provided on Activity Regulated Cytoskeleton Associated Protein (Arc) and Zif268 expression in the brain of the α2A-AR knockout (α2A-AR KO) mouse. These data are supplemental to an original research article examining Arc and Zif268 expression in rats injected with the α2-AR antagonist, RX821002 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2015.12.002. [1]).


a b s t r a c t
The α2-adrenergic receptor (α2-AR) is widely distributed in the brain with distinct roles for α2-AR subtypes (A, B and C). In this article, data are provided on Activity Regulated Cytoskeleton Associated Protein (Arc) and Zif268 expression in the brain of the α2A-AR knockout (α2A-AR KO) mouse. These data are supplemental to an original research article examining Arc and Zif268 expression in rats injected with the α2-AR antagonist, RX821002

Value of the data
These data may stimulate research into the role of specific α2-AR subtypes in regulating cortical and hippocampal plasticity.
These data may stimulate research into the brain activity of α2A-AR KO mice in behavioral models of stress and anxiety [2].
These data may stimulate research into learning and memory processes of mice with deletions of α2-AR subtypes.

Data
These data show Arc and Zif268 mRNA levels in the brains of saline injected WT mice compared to saline injected α2A-AR KO mice. (Figs. 1-3).

Experimental design, materials and methods
Male C57 Bl/6J mice were purchased from Charles River Laboratories (Wilmington, MA), and are designated as wild type (WT) mice in this data report. Male α2A-AR KO mice were purchased from Jackson Labs. WT and α2A-AR KO mice (n ¼5 per group) were injected i.p. with 100 μL of saline.
Brains were harvested 1 h later, frozen on dry ice and stored at À 80°C. All animal use procedures were in strict accordance with The National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and were approved by the University of Nebraska Medical Center Animal Care and Use Committee.

Image analysis
Arc and Zif268 mRNA levels in saline injected WT and α2A-AR KO mice were quantified with image analysis. Autoradiographic densities were quantified using commercial tritium standards (American Radiochemicals, St. Louis, MO) that were previously calibrated to 35 S [4]. Expression in mice was measured at two coronal levels. These levels corresponded to 0.86 mm anterior to the bregma and 1.70 mm posterior to the bregma, and referred to as frontal and parietal cortex, respectively.

Statistics
Arc and Zif268 mRNA levels were compared in saline injected WT and α2A-AR KO mice with a Student's t-test in each cortical layer and in the hippocampus.