Neural gene expression in stress and no-stress female mice. (A) Mean circulating corticosterone levels in stress and no-stress control female mice. (B) Mean serum LH levels in stress and no-stress control female mice. (C) Representative images of Kiss1 mRNA expression in the arcuate nucleus of a no-stress control (left) or after 180 minutes of stress (middle). Mean (± SEM) Kiss1 cell numbers in no-stress controls and 45, 90, and 180-minute stress groups (right). (D) Representative images of Rfrp mRNA expression in the DMN of a no-stress control and after 180 minutes of stress, and mean (± SEM) Rfrp cell numbers in each group. *P < 0.05 vs no-stress controls. #P = 0.09. 3V, third ventricle; ARC, arcuate; CORT, corticosterone.