Table 2.

(A) Mean and standard error of the mean for the total number of cells labeled with RFRP-3-Ir or with Kp-Ir across the 4-day estrous cycle and in female Syrian hamsters either fed ad libitum or food-restricted to 75% of their ad libitum intake for eight days. Tissue was collected from groups representing every day of the four-day estrous cycle. (B) Mean and standard error of the mean for the total number of cells labeled with RFRP-3-Ir in separate groups of female Syrian hamsters that were either fed ad libitum or food restricted to 75% of their ad libitum food intake for eight days. Half of each group was infused intracerebroventricularly with either saline or RFRP-3.

	Ad libitum-fed				Food-restricted
A. Variable/Estrou s Cycle Day	Follicular 1	Follicular 2	Periovulatory	Postovulatory	Follicular 1	Follicular 2	Periovulatory	Postovulatory
Number of RFRP-3-Ir Cells (DMH)	306 ± 47.3	283 ± 18.4	290.6 ± 42.2	303.4 ± 35.8	224.7 ± 27.5	274.6 ± 36.6	221.9 ± 35.1	258.5 ± 22.6
Number of Kp-Ir Cells (Arc)	407.6 ± 35.2	394.9 ± 40.1	381.0 ± 23	505.8 ± 46.5	440.6 ± 89.5	431.0 ± 43.3	423.7 ± 41.9	404.1 ± 38.2
Number of Kp-Ir Cells (AVPV)	145 ± 21.0	187.9 ± 32.7	167.1 ± 28.5	140.6 ± 41.9	199.9 ± 54.7	146.7 ± 39.4	103.2 ± 12.3	114.0 ± 34.8

	Ad libitum-fed				Food-restricted
B. Variable/Hormone Treatment	Vehicle	Estradiol	Estradiol + Progesterone	Progesterone	Vehicle	Estradiol	Estradiol + Progesterone	Progesterone
Number of RFRP-3 Cells	335.1 ± 31.1	282.9 ± 30.1	297.1 ± 26.1	351.6 ± 22.8	317.9 ± 25.9	275.9 ± 21.8	324.8 ± 36.5	299.4 ± 27.6