(A) Representative immunohistochemical images showing TH+ cells within the RVLM of mice of indicated genotypes and experimental groups. Scale bar, 100 μm.
(B) Quantification of the RVLM TH+ cells from experiments shown in (A).
(C,D) Plasma adrenaline (C) and noradrenaline (D) levels in mice of indicated genotypes and experimental groups.
(E–H) Quantification of plasma cortisol (E,G) and corticosterone (F,H) levels in mice of indicated genotypes and experimental groups.
Data shown in panels B–H represent mean ± SEM. *, P ≤ 0.05; **, P ≤ 0.01; ***, P ≤ 0.001 relative to either sham operated WT (black asterisks) or the sham operated animals of the same genotype group (red and green asterisks) ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, and Mann–Whitney U tests were used for data obtained in panels (B), (C,D), and (E–H), respectively. n = 5 (sham operated WT mice), 6 (sham operated WT mice + bicuculline), 5 (sham operated Vav3–/– mice), 6 (sham operated Vav3–/– mice + bicuculline, vagotomized WT with and without bicuculline), 7 (vagotomized Vav3–/– mice), 8 (vagotomized Vav3–/– mice + bicuculline), 5 (sham operated Vav2–/– mice), and 6 (vagotomized Vav2–/– mice) (panels B–F). n = 13 (sham operated WT mice), 12 (sham operated Vav3–/– mice), 5 (sham operated Vav2–/– mice), 14 (vagotomized WT mice), 17 (vagotomized Vav3–/– mice), and 5 (vagotomized Vav2–/– mice) (panels G–H).