Figure 5. Exercise stimulates estrogen receptors in brain vessels.

(A) Levels of GFP were significantly increased in the brains of exercised female mice expressing an estrogen receptor GFP reporter (*p < 0.05 vs sedentary females; n = 3 per group). (B) Exercise activates estrogen receptor GFP reporter activity (expressed by brain vessels, see Supplementary Figure 3A), as reflected by increased GFP staining. Representative brain slices of non-injected female mice (control), injected with an E₂ receptor-GFP reporter and exercised (exercise), non-exercised (sedentary), and non-exercised but injected with E₂ (sedentary + E2). (C) Exercise decreased serum E₂ levels in female mice.