Brain pericytes express Epo mRNA. Shown are the results of multiplex RNA FISH studies for Epo and Pdgfrb transcripts using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded brain tissue sections from NG2-Vhl^−/− mutant mice. (A) (Left) Representative image of a striatal section (ST) containing pericytes that coexpress Epo (green signal) and Pdgfrb transcripts (red signal). Nuclei are stained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI; blue fluorescence). Bright white structures inside the vessels represent RBCs. (Right) Percentage of Pdgfrb⁺ cells coexpressing Epo mRNA (white bar) or Epo⁺ cells coexpressing Pdgfrb transcripts (black bar) (n = 3). (B) (Left) Representative image of a hippocampal section (HP) containing pericytes that coexpress Epo (green signal) and Pdgfrb transcripts (red signal). Nuclei are stained with DAPI (blue signal). (Right) Percentages of Pdgfrb⁺ cells that coexpress Epo transcripts (white bar) or Epo⁺ cells that coexpress Pdgfrb transcripts (black bar) (n = 3). (C) Percentages of Pdgfrb⁺ cells coexpressing Epo transcripts (white bar) or Epo⁺ cells that coexpress Pdgfrb transcripts (black bar) in hypothalamus (HYT), cortex (CTX), and corpus callosum (CC) (n = 3 each).