Fig. 8

The N/OFQ-induced activation of GIRK channels in eGFP-POMC mice is sexually differentiated. Membrane current traces show the N/OFQ-induced outward current in males (a; n = 14), and the attenuation across different stages of the estrous cycle seen in diestrus (c; n = 5), proestrus (d; n = 8), and estrus (e; n = 10), but not metestrus (b; n = 10). The composite I/V plot (f) and bar graph (g) further illustrate the marked reduction in slope conductance during these particular stages of the estrous cycle. Bars and symbols represent means while the lines are indicative of 1 SEM. *p < 0.05, multi-factorial ANOVA/LSD