Fig. 3: Number of GFP-labeled, Kiss1-expressing neurons in KiDKO mice along postnatal maturation.
From: Dicer ablation in Kiss1 neurons impairs puberty and fertility preferentially in female mice
Taking advantage of expression of GFP (tagged to Cre) in Kiss1 neurons of our KiDKO line, GFP-positive (+ve) cells were counted, assuming that, since CreGFP is a non-secreted protein, GFP labeling would provide a more robust maker of viable Kiss1-expressing neurons. Representative images and quantitative data on GFP+ve cells in the ARC of males (a–c), and the AVPV (d–f), and ARC (g–i) of females, of control and KiDKO genotypes, are presented. Data were collected at three postnatal ages: 2 weeks (corresponding to mini-puberty), 4 weeks (corresponding to early pubertal transition), and adulthood (4 months). Group sizes: ARC: n = 7, 6, and 4 for 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and adult, control males, respectively; n = 6, 6, and 4 for 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and adult KiDKO males, respectively; n = 6, 7, and 4 for 2 week, 4 week, and adult control females, respectively; n = 7, 7, and 4 for 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and adult of KiDKO females, respectively; AVPV: n = 6, 7, and 4 for 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and adult control females, respectively; n = 6, 7, and 4 for 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and adult KiDKO females. The values are represented as the mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001 vs. corresponding control groups. Scale bars correspond to 200 µm.
