Figure 3:

Prenatal exposure to ethanol (2 g/kg/day, E10-E15) compared with Control group increased the density of both large and small CCL2⁺ neurons in the LH of postnatal offspring in P7 offspring. A. Ethanol compared with Control (n=7/group) significantly increased the density of large CCL2⁺ single-labeled neurons in both female and male offspring, with the effect on the large CCL2⁺ neurons significantly larger in females. B. Ethanol compared with Control (n = 7/group) significantly increased the density of small CCL2⁺ single-labeled neurons in both female and male offspring, with no significant effect of sex. C. The stimulatory effect of ethanol compared to control is shown in representative 20x confocal images of CCL2⁺ single-labeled neurons in female offspring. These are more clearly illustrated at 40x by the few large (arrowhead) and small (arrow) CCL2⁺ neurons in the box from the Ethanol group. D. Prenatal ethanol compared with Control (n = 6/group) increased the density also of large CCL2⁺/MCH⁺ double-labeled neurons relative to the large single-labeled CCL2⁺ and MCH⁺ neurons, with this effect significantly stronger in females. E. This effect of ethanol is illustrated in 20x confocal images showing CCL2⁺/MCH⁺ double-labeled neurons, with those in the box illustrated to the right at 40x, with a CCL2⁺ (green) or MCH⁺ (red) single-labeled neuron exhibiting CCL2⁺/MCH⁺ double-labeling (yellow). Scale bar, 100 μm. Data are mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05 versus control group. #, p < 0.05 versus males.