Figure 5.

Effects of cerebellar inflammation are mediated by local PGE2 and estradiol production. A, B, Peripheral treatment with LPS increased aromatase activity and estradiol content in the cerebellum and both effects were prevented by coadministration of the COX-2 inhibitor nimesulide (*p < 0.04 vs all other groups). C, Intracerebellar infusion of PGE2 also increased aromatase activity and this effect was blocked by the PKA disruptor Ht31, consistent with a role for EP2 and EP4 receptors in PGE2 action (*p < 0.03 vs all other groups). D, LPS treatment reduced Purkinje dendrite length, but this was prevented by coadministration of the aromatase inhibitor formestane (*p < 0.001 vs all other groups). Images of Golgi–Cox impregnated Purkinje neurons representative of each group are presented. Scale bar, 25 μm. E, F, Peripheral LPS treatment during the second postnatal week reduced later social play in males and this was prevented by intracerebellar infusion of formestane (p = 0.001; E) or peripheral nimesulide (p = 0.001; F). Letters represent statistically homogeneous groups; conditions not sharing letters differ by p < 0.05. G, Schematic diagram of the PGE2-E2 pathway, the agents that modify it, and the impact on the Purkinje cell dendritic tree. Two-way ANOVAs, p < 0.05, and Tukey's HSD p-values are reported.