Fig. 4

The N/OFQ-induced decrease in leEPSC amplitude at SF-1/POMC synapses in NR5A1-Cre mice is sexually differentiated. The membrane current traces on the left are representative baseline leEPSCs before the application of N/OFQ, while the ones to the right are indicative of leEPSCs in the presence of N/OFQ. The N/OFQ-induced reduction in leEPSC amplitude during different stages of the estrous cycle can be seen in slices taken from a proestrus female (a; n = 12) and a diestrus female (b; n = 5). Note that the N/OFQ-induced decrease in leEPSC amplitude seen in a and b is comparatively smaller than seen in males. The composite bar graph in (c) further illustrates the sex-dependent NO receptor-mediated reduction in the amplitude of excitatory input from the dorsomedial VMN onto POMC neurons. Bars represent means, and vertical lines 1 SEM. *p < 0.05; Kruskal-Wallis/median-notched box-and-whisker plot