Figure 2.

Low and high concentrations of cortisol exert differential MR- and GR-dependent effects on neurogenesis and astrogliogenesis. Immunocytochemistry for microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and S100 calcium-binding protein β (S100ß) (a). If treated only during the proliferation phase, the low cortisol concentration (100 nM) and aldosterone (1 μℳ) decrease the number of MAP2-positive neurons. Both effects are counteracted by spironolactone (1 μℳ) (b). The high cortisol concentration (100 μℳ) and dexamethasone (1 μℳ) also decrease the number of MAP2-positive neurons. These effects are both counteracted by RU486 (50 nℳ) (c). No effects on the number of MAP2-positive neurons are observed when cells are treated only during the differentiation phase (d, e). the low cortisol concentration (100 nM) and aldosterone (1 μM) increase the number of S100β-positive astrocytes. Both effects are counteracted by spironolactone (1 μM) (f). The high cortisol concentration (100 μM) and dexamethasone (1 μℳ) do not significantly alter the number of S100β-positive astrocytes (g). No effects are observed on the number of S100β-positive astrocytes when cells are treated only during the differentiation phase (h, i). Three independent experiments were conducted on independent cultures (n=3). Four wells were analyzed per treatment condition in each experiment and three random, non-overlapping pictures were analyzed for each well. All data are mean±s.e.m. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, compared with the vehicle-treated control condition.