Fig. 1

Cultured hippocampal neurons had a sexually differential response to 7,8-DHF-mediated p-TrkB receptor activation that was ERα dependent DIV2 hippocampal neuronal cultures were subjected to various levels of 7,8-DHF for 15 min and the cells fixed and immunostained for p-TrkB and MAP-2. A. Summary figure of p-TrkB fluorescence intensity in MAP-2 positive cells determined in sexed hippocampal neurons cultured from ERα^+/+ mice and subjected to various concentrations of 7,8-DHF for 15 min. Data are mean ± SEM, n = 16–27. Points were fitted with a three-parameter sigmoidal function. B. Representative images of DIV2 cultured ERα^+/+ and ERα^-/- hippocampal neurons immunostained with MAP-2(red) and p-TrkB (green) 15 min post-application of 3 µM 7,8-DHF. Inset (b, f): overlay of MAP-2 and p-TrkB images. Inset (d): primary antibody control (p-TrkB and MAP-2). C. Summary figure of p-TrkB fluorescence intensity in MAP-2 positive ERα^+/+ and ERα^-/- hippocampal neurons 15 min post-application of 3 µM 7,8-DHF. Data are mean ± SEM adjusted by vehicle control, ERα^+/+, n = 4, ERα^-/-n = 10–12