CVS induces dendritic spine loss in PL pyramidal neurons in male and female rats. (A) Darkfield photomicrograph depicting several layer 3 pyramidal neurons in PL targeted for intracellular dye-injection with Lucifer Yellow. (B) Examples of deconvolved images of dendritic segments from layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in PL. Scale bar = 75 μm (A), 5 μm (B). (C, D) Mean + SEM for overall (i.e., summated and averaged across the 4 different regions of the arbor) dendritic spine density (C) and density as a function of the specific dendritic compartment sampled (D). CVS decreased overall spine density that was accounted for by downward trends throughout both apical and basal dendrites, and significant decreases in distal apical dendrites. *, indicates significant difference between control and CVS; P < 0.05 (C), P < 0.0125 (D). Males: N = 5, control; N = 5 CVS; females: N = 10 control; N = 13 CVS.