Fig. 3.

Analysis of the density of dendritic spines in pyramidal neurons of the infralimbic cortex.

A & B: Representative 2D projections of distal segments of spiny apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons from control and stressed males (A) and females (B) at P84. C-E: Graphs showing the results of the analysis of dendritic spine density. Spine density was determined in four 50 μm-length segments located 0–50 μm (proximal), 50–100 μm (proximal-medial), 100–150 μm (medial-distal) and 150–200 μm (distal) from the soma and in the total length (total). The graph in green includes data from all experimental animals (not separated by sex) (C; N: controls = 13, PPS = 11). The graph in orange includes data from males (D; N: controls = 6, PPS = 6). The graph in purple includes data from females (E; N: controls = 6, PPS = 6). Values represent mean ± S.E.M. Asterisks in graphs indicate statistically significant effects between groups (Control x Stress) after unpaired Student's t-test. Symbols: # 0.1 > p > 0.05; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. Scale bar: 5 μm.