Figure 5.
Changes in c-Fos expression of CRF+ neurons of the dorsolateral (dl), dorsomedial (dm) and ventral (v) BNST induced by (A) Odor exposure and (B) EPM exposure. (Top) Representative photomicrograph with CRF (brown) and c-Fos (blue/black) labeling in butyric acid (left) and ferret odor-exposed (right) rats. (Middle) Representative photomicrograph with CRF (brown) and c-Fos (blue/black) labeling in home cage control (left) and EPM-exposed (right) rats. Exposure to ferret odor increased the percentage of CRF-positive neurons with c-Fos in the vBNST (Bottom, A) compared to control odor and butyric acid. EPM exposure resulted in an increase in the percentage of CRF-positive neurons with c-Fos in the dmBNST and vBNST (Bottom, B) compared to home cage controls, but there was no difference between high and low anxiety groups. ***P<0.001, **P<0.01, *P<0.05 (N=5–7). Percent CRF with c-Fos neurons represent: (the total number of double-labeled neurons / total CRF-labeled neurons) * 100. Pictures are at 20x magnification. Scale bar represents approximately 100 microns. The solid arrows indicate double-labeled neurons (blue/black = c-Fos and brown = CRF), and the dotted arrows indicate single-labeled CRF neurons.