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. 2017 Dec 12;6:e31373. doi: 10.7554/eLife.31373

Figure 3. Aromatase-expressing neurons in the MeApd are the cellular substrate mediating OT signaling in sexual discrimination.

Figure 3.

(A) Virus-mediated ablation of OXTR in the MeA (Upper) and BNST (Bottom) of Oxtrflox/flox mice. Illustrations of the MeAp and BNST were adapted from the Paxinos and Franklin mouse brain atlas. The AAV-eGFP and AAV-Cre-eGFP viruses are stereotaxically injected into the MeAp and BNST of Oxtrflox/flox male. (B–D) Time spent investigating each odor cue, odor preference scores, and total time investigating odor cues of Oxtrflox/flox mice with either AAV-eGFP or AAV-Cre-eGFP injection of the MeAp. t test, **p<0.01, ns, not significant. (E–G) Effects of OXTR ablation in the BNST on time investigating each odor cue, odor preference scores, and total time investigating odor cues. t test, ***p<0.001, **p<0.01, ns, not significant. (H) Virus-mediated expression of OXTR in the MeA and BNST via the AAV-OXTR-IRES-eGFP virus. (I–N) Time spent investigating each odor cue, odor preference scores, and total time investigating odor cues of Oxtrflox/flox (control) and Cyp19a1-Cre; Oxtrflox/flox (A-Oxtrflox/flox) mice with MeAp (I–K) or BNST (L–N) virus injection. t test, ***p<0.001, **p<0.01, *p<0.05.