Fig. 4.

Chemogenetic activation of MeA^Kiss neurons in Kiss1^CreEGFP/wt male mice stimulates LH release but fails to activate GnRH neurons. Male Kiss1^CreEGFP/wt mice received MeA injections of rAAVs encoding EF1α-DIO-hM3D(Gq)-mCherry and hSyn-DIO-hKORD-IRES-mCitrine. After 3 weeks, the mice were treated with SALB (10 µg/g), CNO (3 µg/g), or vehicle (DMSO). a Serum LH concentration (ng/mL) in male mice 30 min following drug treatment (n = 23–24 in each group). Data are represented as mean ± SEM. ns, no significant difference; *** p < 0.001 (one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test). b Representative photomicrographs showing GnRH (green) and c-Fos (red) labelling in the POA (Bregma 0.50 mm) 60 min after vehicle, CNO, or SALB treatment. Green arrows mark GnRH cell bodies and red arrows mark c-Fos⁺ nuclei. Scale bars, 100 µm.