Fig. 1: Aromatase expression and βE2 presence in PV-INs of female mice. | Nature Communications

Fig. 1: Aromatase expression and βE2 presence in PV-INs of female mice.

From: Sex-specific regulation of inhibition and network activity by local aromatase in the mouse hippocampus

Fig. 1

A Representative image of aromatase (arom) mRNA in situ hybridization in dorsal hippocampus CA1 region (approximate location, red square, left schema) of an adult parvalbumin-Cre (PV-Cre) female mice infected with AAVs carrying a Cre-dependent EYFP expression construct. EYFP labeled parvalbumin inhibitory neurons (PV-INs) and mRNA single-channel images are represented in gray scale in the middle part of the panel. SO stratum oriens, SP stratum pyramidale. Scale bar: 20 μm. B Aromatase mRNA signal (red dots) was detected in hippocampal PV EYFP+ neurons located in the SO and SP of the dorsal CA1 area. Scale bar: 5 μm. C No signal was detected in CA1 when probe was omitted (Neg. control). High aromatase mRNA signal (red dots) was detected in medial amygdala, a positive control (Pos. control) for aromatase expression. Scale bar: 20 μm. D Aromatase mRNA dot density analysis in CA1 PV-INs, CA1 stratum pyramidale (SP) and Medial Amygdala (MeA). Aromatase mRNA expression in PV-INs was higher compared with SP but lower than in MeA. One-way ANOVA, F(2, 42) = 49.54, p < 0.0001. Bonferroni’s comparison tests, PV-SP p < 0.0001, PV-MeA p < 0.0001; n = 26, 9 and 10 PV-INs, SP and MeA neurons respectively, from 2 mice. Whiskers represent median and 10–90 percentiles. E Simultaneous immunohistochemical detection of aromatase protein (green) and PV (red) in CA1 region of female mice. Single-channel images are reproduced in gray scale in the left part of the panel. Scale bar: 20 μm. F Frequency distribution analysis of aromatase protein staining intensities in PV-INs (black) and pyramidal neurons (PYR, gray), arbitrary units (arb. units). Two-way ANOVA, F(1, 4) = 74.05, p = 0.001; n = 3 mice. Graph represents mean ± SEM. G Presence of 17-β-estradiol (βE2, green) in PV-IN (red) of the CA1 region of female mice was assessed using immunohistochemical analysis. Single-channel images are represented in gray scale in the upper part of the panel. Scale bar: 20 μm. *p < 0.05. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

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