Regulation of expression of the neuroprotective ERK target, BCL-2 by chronic and acute stress. This figure shows quantification and representative Western blots of BCL-2 relative to GAPDH protein from the hippocampus of control, acutely stressed, CVS animals, and CVS plus novel acute stress. Chronic and acute stress resulted in decreased BCL-2 expression in CA1 and CA3, but chronic plus acute stress increased BCL-2 expression in the DG. Data are shown as means ± SE; (*, P < .05; **, P < .01; ***, P < .0001; #, P = .054 (n = 4–6 animals per group).