Reduced pERK in the amygdala of MdkKO mice treated with ethanol. (a–d) Images showing pERK staining in the CeA of female wild-type (a, b; +/+) and MdkKO (c, d; −/−) mice 30 min after saline (a, c) or 3 g/kg ethanol (b, d) treatment. (e) Quantification of pERK staining using Image J. There was a significant effect of ethanol treatment and a treatment by genotype interaction. Data are presented as mean ± S.E.M. ***p < 0.001; #p = 0.045, treatment by genotype interaction. Abbreviations: Sal, saline; EtOH, ethanol; CeA, central nucleus of the amygdala; BLA, basolateral amygdala; ec, external capsule; ic, internal capsule. Scale bar, 200 μm.