Figure 4.

Dynamic changes in mRNA levels of the PGE2-E2 pathway components define the sensitive period. A, Peripheral LPS treatment increased mRNA for the inducible form of COX (Ptgs2) and microsomal PGES1 during each of the first 3 postnatal weeks (*p < 0.05). In the brain, Mgll is essential for the production of AA, the substrate for the COX enzymes, and increased after LPS treatment only during the second week (*p < 0.03 vs all others). B, Developmental profile of mRNA levels for the enzymes and receptors that constitute the PGE2-E2 pathway is divided into those associated with PGE2 synthesis (left), receptors for PGE2 (middle), and those associated with estradiol action (right). MANOVAs, Tukey's HSD p-value are reported, letters of the same color represent statistically homogeneous groups. Time points of the same color not sharing a letter statistically differ by p < 0.05.