Fig. 6: Serum prolactin level is increased in female Satb2 CKO mice.

a–c’ Double immunostaining of pSTAT5 and TH in the hypothalamus of virgin and lactating females. Expression of pSTAT5 is massively elevated in lactating dams comparing to virgin females. Inserts show the colocalization of TH and pSTAT5. d The colocalization of TH and pSTAT5 is significantly increased in DM and VL of ARC in lactating dams comparing to virgin females. n = 3 for each group. e The level of serum prolactin is increased in female Satb2 CKO mice relative to control, although the p-value does not reach a significant difference in the male group. For males, n = 3 for control and n = 4 for Satb2 CKO mice; for females, n = 4 for control and n = 3 for Satb2 CKO mice. f–g’ A large number of pSTAT5⁺ cells are present in the ARC, VMH, and MEA of Satb2 CKO mice of seven months old (f’, g’), where they were hardly detected in age-matched control mice (f, g). Inserts show the enlarged pSTAT5⁺ cells. Statistical differences were determined by Student’s t-test, *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001. Error bars represent S.E.M. 3V third ventricle; ARC arcuate nucleus; DM dorsomedial part of ARC; MEA medial nucleus of the amygdala; VMH ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. Scale bar = 250 μm in a–c’, 20 μm in inserts of c, c’, 100 μm in f–g’ and 50 μm in inserts of f–g’.